Tennessee Senate Bill SB0022

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/2/25

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 29 and Title 41, relative to prison oversight.

Summary

SB 22 makes a narrow administrative change to Tennessee law governing prison oversight board expenses. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated section 41-21-1004(e) to state that, when appropriate, members of the board and the board’s employees may be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary travel expenses under the state’s comprehensive travel regulations, as promulgated by the Department of Finance and Administration and approved by the Attorney General and Reporter. The bill does not create a new board, expand oversight powers, or change prison policy directly. Instead, it clarifies the reimbursement standard for board members and staff, tying travel payments to existing state travel rules and making the provision effective immediately upon becoming law.

Impact

The bill affects Tennessee Code Annotated Title 41 by revising the reimbursement language for the prison oversight board and its employees. It aligns travel expense reimbursement with statewide travel regulations, which may affect how board-related travel is approved, documented, and paid. No substantive changes to inmate management, correctional operations, or board authority are made by the text of the bill.

Sentiment

There is no recorded committee discussion or vote history in the provided materials, so the overall sentiment cannot be measured directly from debate or roll calls. Based on the bill text, the measure appears routine and noncontroversial, focused on administrative housekeeping rather than policy change. The absence of recorded opposition or amendments suggests no evident public or legislative conflict in the available record.

Contention

No specific points of contention are shown in the provided transcripts or voting history, because none are included. If any concern were to arise, it would likely center on whether the reimbursement language is necessary, how broadly "when appropriate" should be applied, or whether the board’s travel expenses should be subject to any additional oversight. However, the available record does not identify any lawmakers, agencies, or stakeholders taking opposing positions.