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SB 661

Criminal Offenses - As introduced, extends from January 15 to February 15, the date by which, every five years, the fiscal review committee must report to the chief clerks of the senate and the house of representatives of the general assembly the percentage of change in the average consumer price index (all items-city average) as published by the United States department of labor, bureau of labor statistics and must inform the general assembly what the statutory minimum and maximum authorized fine for each offense classification would be if adjusted to reflect the compounded cost-of-living increases during the five-year period. - Amends TCA Title 16; Title 36; Title 37; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40; Title 49; Title 55 and Title 65.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Joey Hensley

Creates a framework to report inflation-adjusted minimum and maximum fines for offenses over five years, informing future updates without changing current penalties.

Action deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 2027
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Bill Summary · SB 661

Summary of SB 661 (Session 114) – Tennessee

Overview

SB 661, introduced as part of House Bill 723, amends multiple titles related to criminal offenses in Tennessee. The primary change is procedural: it extends the deadline by which the Fiscal Review Committee must report on the percentage change in the average consumer price index (all items – city average) and must inform the General Assembly of what the statutory minimum and maximum fines for each offense classification would be if adjusted for five-year compounded cost-of-living increases. The bill does not modify current substantive criminal penalties; it updates reporting and potential future adjustment mechanics. The effective date is July 1, 2025.

  • Titles affected: 16; 36; 37; 38; 39; 40; 49; 55; and 65 of the Tennessee Code Annotated (TCA).
  • Key delivery to lawmakers: The Fiscal Review Committee must report every five years on:
    • The percentage change in the CPI (all items, city average, as published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
    • The statutory minimum and maximum fines for each offense classification, adjusted to reflect compounded five-year cost-of-living increases.
  • Deadline shift: The reporting deadline is moved from January 15 to February 15.

Main Purpose and Intent

  • To provide a formal mechanism for periodically adjusting criminal fines to reflect inflation.
  • To inform the General Assembly of the potential revised (compounded) fines that would apply if fines were adjusted for cost-of-living increases over the preceding five-year period.
  • To ensure that any future adjustments to fines are considered with up-to-date inflation data, without altering current law at the time of passage.

Key Provisions and Changes

  • Deadline Change for CPI and Fine Adjustments Reporting: The statutory deadline for the annual (every five years) fiscal review and proposed adjustments to fines is moved from January 15 to February 15.
  • Inflation-Based Fine Adjustment Framework (Non-Substantive Change): The bill requires the Fiscal Review Committee to calculate and report:
    • The CPI percentage change over the five-year period.
    • What the minimum and maximum fines would be for each offense classification if adjusted by compounded cost-of-living increases over those five years.
  • Scope of Law: The legislation affects multiple criminal offense titles, but it does not itself alter the substantive penalties; it creates a framework for potential future adjustments and transparency.

Who/What Is Affected

  • State Government and Legislators: Receives updated inflation-adjusted penalty data to inform potential future changes to fines.
  • Offenders and Criminal Justice System: Indirectly affected in the long term if fines are adjusted in future amendments based on CPI data (current law remains in place until any future legislative action enacts adjustments).
  • Public and General Assembly: Gains clearer insight into the impact of inflation on fines and how penalty amounts could shift.

Procedural and Timeline Considerations

  • Effective Date: July 1, 2025 (public welfare requirement).
  • Action History:
    • Introduced and advanced through Senate and House committees with multiple readings.
    • Most recently: action deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 2027 (as of March 23, 2026), with calendar placements in 2025–2026 indicating ongoing consideration.
  • Fiscal Note: The fiscal analysis indicates a non-significant fiscal impact on state/local governments.

Practical Implications

  • The bill establishes a formal inflation-reporting process to inform potential future statutory adjustments to fines, promoting inflation-aware budgeting and sentencing considerations.
  • It does not immediately change any fines or criminal penalties but creates a reproducible framework for periodic adjustment discussions.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary for a policy brief, a legislative memo, or a public-facing explainer with examples illustrating how a hypothetical five-year CPI change could alter minimum and maximum fines for specific offense classifications.

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

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