Tennessee House Bill HB1502

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/12/26
• Refer: 1/14/26
• Refer: 2/10/26
• Refer: 2/18/26
• Refer: 3/4/26
• Chaptered: 4/6/26
• Passed: 4/6/26

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 38; Title 39 and Title 41, relative to the Tennessee corrections institute.

Summary

HB1502 revises Tennessee law governing the Tennessee Corrections Institute and the oversight of correctional training and facilities. It expands the institute’s authority to establish certification requirements for corrections officers, certify local correctional training academies, and set uniform standards for recruit and officer training, continuing certification, revocation, and special certifications for qualified personnel. The bill also adds institute directors and full-time employees to the list of persons protected by the state’s assault statute while performing their duties. The bill further changes the process for local correctional facilities to avoid decertification after inspection deficiencies. A currently certified local facility may remain certified if the local government submits a timely plan of action addressing certain deficiencies, but the plan cannot extend beyond five years without unanimous board approval, cannot exceed 12 months where the board believes the deficiency could have been reasonably fixed, and cannot be used for deficiencies that directly affect safety, security, or public welfare. The board may consult other state agencies before approving longer extensions to ensure facility safety and security.

Impact

The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Titles 4, 38, 39, and 41 by strengthening the Tennessee Corrections Institute’s regulatory role over corrections officer training, academy certification, and professional standards. It also modifies decertification rules for local jails, lock-ups, and workhouses by creating a formal plan-of-action pathway for facilities with certain deficiencies, while preserving the board’s authority to deny extensions for serious safety-related problems. In addition, it extends criminal-law protections to institute staff acting in the line of duty.

Sentiment

The available voting history shows strong and unanimous support at every stage, including subcommittee, full committee, and final floor passage on the consent calendar. There is no recorded committee transcript indicating opposition, and the bill advanced with broad bipartisan agreement. The overall sentiment appears favorable, with lawmakers treating the measure as a technical but important corrections administration and public safety bill.

Contention

No explicit contention appears in the available record. The only provisions that could have generated debate are the limits on how long local facilities may remain certified while correcting deficiencies, and the board’s discretion to deny extensions for safety, security, or public welfare concerns. Those issues affect local governments operating correctional facilities, the Tennessee Corrections Institute board, and correctional staff, but the unanimous votes suggest no significant opposition was raised in the legislative process provided.