TennesseeCourt clerks collect $125 assessments for county victims programs
The law requires court clerks to collect a $125 assessment in covered criminal cases, keep $15, and send the remaining $110 to the county victims assistance program.
What it does
Court clerks collect a $125 assessment from people who plead guilty or no contest, are found guilty, or are found criminally responsible for covered offenses. It is added to other taxes, costs, and fines.
For each assessment, the clerk keeps $15 for processing and handling and sends $110 to the county where the offense occurred. The county must use that money only for its designated victims assistance program.
Argument forCounty victims assistance programs may receive $110 from each assessment to support their work.
Argument againstPeople assessed may have less money available because the $125 charge is added to other taxes, costs, and fines.
More detail
Court clerks collect a $125 victims assistance assessment from people who meet the listed conditions. It applies in general sessions, circuit, criminal, municipal general sessions, and similar criminal courts to people who enter the listed pleas, are found guilty of covered offenses, or are found criminally responsible as a principal. The assessment is added to other taxes, costs, and fines. The act took effect when it became law.
The court clerk receives $15 of each assessment for processing and handling, and sends the remaining $110 to the county where the offense occurred. This applies to each victims assistance assessment collected under the act. The county must use the $110 only for the victims assistance program previously designated by its county legislative body. The act took effect when it became law.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 27Pub. Ch. 1115Latest
- May 27Effective date(s) 05/22/2026
- May 22Signed by Governor Bill Lee.Became Law
- May 11Transmitted to Governor for action.To Governor
- May 7Signed by H. SpeakerMajor
- Apr 30Enrolled and ready for signaturesMinor
- Apr 30Signed by Senate SpeakerMajor
- Apr 23Senate refused to concur in amendmentMinor
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/23/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 23Motion to lift from table adopted.
- Apr 23Motion to reconsider adopted.
- Apr 23H. Am. 1 reconsidered, withdrawn.
- Apr 23Passed H., Ayes 77, Nays 16, PNV 0Major
- Apr 22Placed on Senate Message Calendar for 4/23/2026
- Apr 21Subst. for comp. HB.Major
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/21/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 21H. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA0971)Major
- Apr 21Passed H., as am., Ayes 80, Nays 5, PNV 1Passed House
- Apr 20Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.
- Apr 15Passed Senate, Ayes 29, Nays 3, PNV 1Passed Senate
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: Third Consideration 4/15/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 15Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Apr 15Engrossed; ready for transmission to HouseMinor
- Apr 13Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/15/2026
- Mar 31Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee
- Vote recorded SENATE FINANCE, WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE: Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee 3/31/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 24Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 3/31/2026
- Mar 16Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
- Vote recorded SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee 3/16/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 11Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/16/2026
- Feb 5Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary CommitteeMinor
- Feb 2Introduced, Passed on First ConsiderationMinor
- Jan 22Filed for introductionIntroduced
Criminal Justice