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SB 2099

Courts, Administrative Office of the - As introduced, enacts the "Tennessee Court Appearance Reminder Program Act." - Amends TCA Title 16 and Title 40.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Raumesh Akbari

Tennessee establishes court appearance reminder system to reduce no-shows and improve judicial efficiency through automated notifications to scheduled court participants.

Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee
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Bill Summary · SB 2099

Legislative bill overview

SB 2099 enacts the "Tennessee Court Appearance Reminder Program Act," which establishes a system for courts to send reminder notifications to individuals with scheduled court appearances. The bill amends Tennessee's court procedure statutes (Title 16 and Title 40) to authorize and implement this reminder mechanism across the state's judicial system.

Why is this important

Court no-shows create significant operational and financial burdens on the judicial system, leading to case delays, wasted resources, and potential warrant issuances. By implementing reminder notifications, Tennessee aims to increase court attendance rates, reduce administrative costs, and improve case processing efficiency while potentially reducing unnecessary enforcement actions against individuals who simply forgot their court dates.

Potential points of contention

  • Implementation costs and funding: Who bears the expense of the reminder program (SMS, email, phone calls), and whether sufficient funding is allocated to the Administrative Office of the Courts
  • Privacy and data security: How court systems will securely collect, store, and use contact information for defendants and litigants without creating new data breach risks
  • Equity concerns: Whether certain populations (unhoused individuals, those without stable phone numbers, non-English speakers) will be effectively reached, potentially creating disparate impacts
  • Effectiveness limitations: Unclear whether reminders alone will significantly reduce no-shows or if additional support systems are needed for vulnerable populations

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

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