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SB 956

Expunction - As introduced, lowers the period of time that must elapse after completion of the sentence imposed before a petitioner may have an eligible criminal offense expunged, for misdemeanors or Class E felonies, from five years to three years, and for Class D felonies, from 10 years to six years. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 40.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by London Lamar

Tennessee bill reduces criminal record expungement waiting periods from 3-10 years to 3-6 years, enabling faster reentry for those with eligible convictions.

Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.
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Bill Summary · SB 956

Legislative bill overview

SB 956 accelerates Tennessee's criminal record expungement timeline by reducing waiting periods after sentence completion. For misdemeanors and Class E felonies, the waiting period drops from five years to three years; for Class D felonies, it decreases from ten years to six years. This applies to eligible offenses under Tennessee Code Annotated Titles 39 and 40.

Why is this important

Expungement removes conviction records from public view, significantly improving employment, housing, and educational opportunities for individuals with prior convictions. Shorter waiting periods allow people to rebuild their lives faster, potentially reducing recidivism by enabling faster reintegration into society. This directly affects thousands of Tennesseans annually and reflects broader criminal justice reform trends nationwide.

Potential points of contention

  • Public safety concerns: Opponents may argue shorter timelines don't adequately protect communities and employers who rely on criminal history disclosure for hiring and safety decisions
  • Victim considerations: Critics may contend that reduced waiting periods don't sufficiently respect victims' interests or provide adequate time to assess rehabilitation
  • Implementation burden: Law enforcement and court systems require resources to process increased expungement petitions within compressed timelines
  • Consistency questions: Different reduction percentages (40% for misdemeanors/Class E vs. 40% for Class D) may raise fairness questions about sentencing tier treatment

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

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