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HB 96

Attorney General and Reporter - As enacted, authorizes the attorney general and reporter to conduct an investigation and initiate criminal prosecution of a judicial elected official or district attorney general whenever the attorney general and reporter has probable cause to investigate whether an official may have violated any state criminal law and either a decision to prosecute the official by the district attorney general may result in a personal, financial, or political conflict of interest or the attorney general and reporter receives a report of a violation of the prohibition on nepotism within state government entities. - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 6.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Elaine Davis

Tennessee Attorney General gains authority to investigate and prosecute judges and district attorneys when local conflicts of interest exist or nepotism violations are reported.

Comp. became Pub. Ch. 58
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Bill Summary · HB 96

Legislative bill overview

HB 96 authorizes Tennessee's Attorney General to investigate and prosecute judicial officials and district attorneys when conflicts of interest prevent the local district attorney from handling cases, or when nepotism violations are reported. Previously, such investigations were limited and conflicts of interest created prosecutorial gaps.

Why is this important

This bill addresses a structural accountability gap: when a district attorney has a personal, financial, or political conflict of interest in prosecuting judges or other district attorneys, there was previously no clear state-level authority to step in. This could leave serious crimes uninvestigated. The nepotism provision adds another layer of oversight for state government integrity.

Potential points of contention

  • Separation of powers concerns: Centralizing prosecution authority in the Attorney General's office could be viewed as expanding executive power over the judiciary, or conversely, as necessary checks and balances
  • Conflict of interest definition: The bill references "personal, financial, or political" conflicts but doesn't define these terms precisely, potentially leading to disputes over whether prosecution is appropriate
  • Nepotism provision scope: The nepotism language may be broad or narrow depending on how "state government entities" is interpreted and what constitutes a reportable violation requiring investigation

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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