Safer Communities: What the 114th General Assembly Did to Protect Tennessee Families

Public safety is not a political issue. It is a basic promise that government makes to the people it serves: that you can live your life, raise your family, and go about your business without fear. The 114th General Assembly took that promise seriously, and I am proud of what we accomplished to make Tennessee communities safer.

We passed a new law creating a presumption against releasing defendants who are charged with offenses involving a firearm that result in death or bodily injury. In plain terms, that means judges must have a very good reason to release someone back into the community when they are accused of using a gun to hurt or kill someone. Too many families have been devastated by repeat offenders who should have been behind bars. This law helps change that.

We banned kratom, sometimes called gas station heroin, a substance that has caused serious addiction and death across Tennessee. Banning it removes one more dangerous product from convenience store shelves and protects families from a drug that has destroyed lives.

We created new protections for victims of domestic violence, including a substitute address program that allows survivors to use a different address to keep their home location hidden from their abuser. This is a practical, life-saving protection for people who are trying to escape dangerous situations.

For victims of human trafficking, we expanded self-defense protections so that individuals who are being trafficked have the legal right to defend themselves. This is about recognizing the humanity of victims and giving them legal standing to protect their own lives.

We added aggravating circumstances that allow prosecutors to pursue the death penalty for child rapists. There is no more heinous crime than the sexual abuse of a child, and Tennessee is sending a clear message that the most extreme cases will be met with the most extreme consequences.

We also passed the Grace Anne Sparks Coercive Suicide Prevention Law, which creates a felony offense for someone who manipulates or coerces another person into attempting suicide. This law was named for a 19-year-old from Knoxville whose life was taken by a predator who groomed her over video chat and encouraged her to harm herself. Grace Anne deserved better, and so does every other young person vulnerable to this kind of manipulation.

We strengthened accountability for sex offenders, requiring them to notify campgrounds of their status. We toughened penalties for anyone who distributes THC products to children. We increased the penalty for burglaries of vehicles, freight cars, and other conveyances. We passed legislation targeting organized retail crime rings with mandatory minimum jail time.

We also passed the James Bardsley Jr. Life Protection Act, which establishes a mandatory minimum one-year sentence for drivers who flee the scene of a fatal accident. Jimmy Bardsley was only 19 years old when he was killed by a driver who left him on the road. His family deserved justice, and this law ensures future families won't have to watch a killer walk away with a light sentence.

Safety is the foundation of everything else. When communities are safe, families thrive, businesses grow, and children can be children. I am proud to have been part of a General Assembly that took that responsibility seriously this session.