Tennessee House Bill HB1233

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/6/25
• Refer: 2/12/25

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 40, Chapter 11, relative to bail.

Summary

HB1233 makes a narrow change to Tennessee’s bail statutes by allowing bail bond receipts to be provided in either written or digital form. Under current law, the relevant provision required a receipt and a duplicate copy; this bill updates that language to expressly permit a “written or digital receipt” and a “duplicate written or digital copy.” The measure does not change who must issue receipts or the underlying bail process, but modernizes the recordkeeping language to reflect electronic documentation practices. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 40-11-304(a), which governs bail-related receipt requirements. Its practical effect is to authorize bail bond agents or other covered parties to use digital receipts and retain digital duplicates, likely reducing paper handling and making compliance easier for businesses and courts that already use electronic records. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.

Impact

HB1233 updates Tennessee’s bail code to recognize digital documentation in place of paper-only receipts and duplicate copies. It affects the recordkeeping obligations of bail bond providers and any other parties subject to Section 40-11-304(a), but it does not alter bail eligibility, bond amounts, or court procedures beyond receipt format. The change is a technical modernization of state law to accommodate electronic business practices.

Sentiment

No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate or opposition. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears routine and administrative rather than controversial, with a likely neutral-to-positive reception because it simplifies compliance and updates the law to match common digital recordkeeping practices.

Contention

No specific points of contention are documented in the provided materials. If any concerns were raised, they would most likely relate to whether digital receipts are sufficiently reliable, secure, or accessible compared with paper copies, but no such objections appear in the available record. The bill’s narrow scope suggests limited controversy.