Tennessee HB 2821: Sentencing - As introduced, reduces the percentage of sentence that a person convicted of first degree murder on or after July 1, 1995, and sentenced to life imprisonment is required to serve before becoming eligible for release from 100 percent of 60 years less sentence credits earned and retained to 60 percent of 60 years less sentence credits earned and retained; prohibits a defendant becoming eligible for parole before serving 25 years of the sentence, if the defendant was 25 years of age or younger at the time of the offense, or 30 years of the sentence, if the defendant was 26 years of age or older at the time of the offense. - Amends TCA Title 37; Title 39, Chapter 13, Part 2 and Title 40.

Bill Text

SENATE BILL 2768 
 By Bowling 
 
HOUSE BILL 2821 
By Camper 
 
 
HB2821 
013110 
- 1 - 
 
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 37; 
Title 39, Chapter 13, Part 2 and Title 40, relative to 
criminal sentencing. 
 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE: 
 SECTION 1.  Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 40-35-501(h)(2), is amended by 
deleting the subdivision and substituting: 
(2)  Release eligibility for a defendant committing the offense of first degree 
murder on or after July 1, 1995, who receives a sentence of imprisonment for life occurs 
after service of sixty percent (60%) of sixty (60) years less sentence credits earned and 
retained by the defendant.  Notwithstanding the governor's power to reduce prison 
overcrowding pursuant to title 41, chapter 1, part 5, any sentence reduction credits 
authorized by § 41-21-236, or any other provision of law relating to sentence credits, in 
no event shall a defendant sentenced to imprisonment for life be eligible for parole until 
the defendant has served a minimum of: 
(A)  If the defendant was twenty-five (25) years of age or younger at the 
time of the offense, twenty-five (25) full calendar years of the sentence; or 
(B)  If the defendant was twenty-six (26) years of age or older at the time 
of the offense, thirty (30) full calendar years of the sentence. 
SECTION 2.  This act takes effect July 1, 2024, the public welfare requiring it, and 
applies to offenses committed on or after July 1, 1995.