AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 29 and Title 66, relative to eviction actions.
Summary
SB0806 revises Tennessee’s eviction procedures for unlawful detainer cases, with a specific focus on cases based solely on nonpayment of rent. It requires the trial date to be set no less than six days after service, but no more than 14 days after the plaintiff files the action in rent-nonpayment cases. It also limits the scope of those hearings to issues directly related to nonpayment of rent, including the lease terms and the defendant’s payment history.
The bill further changes the timing of post-judgment possession. In most unlawful detainer cases, a writ of possession cannot issue until 10 days after judgment. For cases based solely on nonpayment of rent, however, the writ must be issued within 24 hours of judgment, the tenant must vacate within seven days of receiving the writ, and the landlord may seek immediate sheriff removal if the tenant does not leave within that period. The act takes effect July 1, 2025.
Impact
The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 29, Chapter 18, governing unlawful detainer and eviction actions, and affects the timing and scope of eviction proceedings for landlords and tenants in rent-default cases. It creates a faster, more narrowly focused process for nonpayment-of-rent cases while preserving a longer default post-judgment period for other eviction actions. The practical effect is to accelerate possession remedies for landlords in rent-only cases and to limit the issues tenants may raise at hearing.
Sentiment
No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate or formal support/opposition in the available materials. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears designed to streamline eviction proceedings for nonpayment cases, which may be viewed favorably by landlords and property owners seeking quicker resolution, while likely drawing concern from tenant advocates because it shortens timelines and restricts the scope of hearings.
Contention
The main point of contention is the bill’s treatment of nonpayment-of-rent evictions: it speeds up trial scheduling, narrows the hearing to rent-related issues, and shortens the time before a writ of possession and sheriff removal can occur. Supporters would likely emphasize efficiency, predictability, and landlord remedies, while opponents would likely argue that the bill reduces tenants’ ability to raise broader defenses or obtain more time before displacement. No specific individuals or groups are identified in the provided record, but the likely divide is between landlord/property-owner interests and tenant-rights advocates.