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SB 1976

Law Enforcement - As introduced, requires a law enforcement agency that uses body cameras to adopt a written policy for the use of the cameras by its law enforcement officers; establishes certain requirements for the policies. - Amends TCA Title 38, Chapter 1.

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

Requires law enforcement body camera programs to adopt written policies with activation, retention, access rules; mandates training and specific retention periods.

Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Judiciary Committee
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Bill Summary · SB 1976

Summary of Bill: SB 1976 / HB 2436 (Tennessee, 114th Session)

Overview

  • Jurisdiction: Tennessee
  • Title: Law Enforcement – Body cameras
  • Purpose: To require law enforcement agencies (LEAs) that use body cameras to adopt comprehensive written policies governing the use, retention, access, and disciplinary consequences related to body camera recordings. The bill sets minimum standards for camera placement, recording activation/deactivation, notification of subjects, retention periods, access controls, and related disciplinary actions.

Key Provisions

Written Policies and Training

  • LEAs that use body cameras must adopt a written policy governing their use, in compliance with the bill.
  • Officers must receive a copy of the policy and training on body camera use before utilizing the cameras.
  • Only officers with authority to conduct searches and make arrests may wear body cameras (undercover officers are excluded).

Policy Requirements (Minimum Standards)

  • Camera placement: Policies must ensure cameras are worn to maximize video footage of activities.
  • Recording activation/deactivation:
    • Officers must activate cameras when responding to calls for service.
    • Cameras must be activated at the start of any encounter with a member of the public, with life/safety exceptions.
    • If activation isn’t possible/dangerous, officers must activate at the first reasonable opportunity.
    • Cameras must not be deactivated until the encounter ends and the officer leaves the scene.
    • Officers on scene or arriving with cameras must activate and keep recording while at the scene.
  • Notification: Officers must inform subjects that they are being recorded as early in the encounter as reasonably possible.
  • Exceptions: The policy may allow camera-discontinuation in certain circumstances:
    • Prior to entering a private residence without a warrant or in non-exigent circumstances, upon occupant request.
    • Interactions with apparent crime victims (e.g., domestic violence, rape) upon victim’s request.
    • Interactions with individuals seeking to anonymously report a crime or assist in ongoing investigations, upon request.
  • Any request to discontinue must be recorded on camera prior to stopping recording.

Retention and Public Access (Data Management)

  • All body camera recordings not subject to a longer retention must be kept for at least 6 months from the recording date, then permanently deleted.
  • Automatic longer retention (at least 13 months) is required for:
    • Any use of force
    • Events leading up to or constituting a felony
    • A recorded encounter if a subject files a complaint within 6 months
  • Additional 13-month retention also applies if requested within 6 months by:
    • The officer(s) involved, or their supervisor
    • A public subject of the recording
    • A parent/guardian of a minor subject
    • A deceased subject’s next of kin or designee
  • Review and access: The individuals listed above may review recordings subject to the 13-month retention, with conditions described in the bill.
  • Public records: Recordings are generally public records, with exceptions for longer-retention materials and protected circumstances (subject to § 10-7-503 et seq. and related exemptions).
  • Evidence and timing: Officers cannot review certain recordings involving longer retention before completing initial reports/interviews.

Access, Disclosure, and Third-Party Access

  • LEAs must adopt a written policy governing access to recordings.
  • Recordings not subject to 13-month retention are not subject to automated analytics.
  • Recordings must not be used for non-law-enforcement purposes (e.g., commercial use).
  • If a third-party contractor maintains recordings, the agent cannot access or alter recordings except to delete as required.

Discipline and Compliance

  • If an officer/employee/agent violates the policy or retention/access requirements, the LEA must impose disciplinary action and establish policies/certification for such discipline.
  • A rebuttable evidentiary presumption favors criminal defendants if exculpatory evidence was destroyed or not captured, and similarly for civil plaintiffs alleging police misconduct.
  • Violations involving contravention must lead to immediate destruction of the affected recording and prohibitions on admissibility in proceedings.
  • The act does not override existing evidence maintenance/destruction laws.

Beneficiaries and Affected Parties

  • Primary: Law enforcement agencies in Tennessee and their officers who wear body cameras.
  • Secondary: Individuals recorded by body cameras (subjects, victims, witnesses), and the public in terms of access to recordings.
  • Contractors/technology vendors: May face updated policy requirements and retention timelines, but fiscal impact is projected to be not significant.

Timelines and Effective Date

  • Section 2: The act takes effect upon becoming law and applies to recordings created on or after that date.
  • Requires immediate policy adoption and training for LEAs using body cameras.

Fiscal Impact

  • Fiscal Note (initial and amended): Not-significant impact anticipated.
  • Assumptions emphasize that:
    • There are ~311 county/municipal LEAs; ~60% (about 187) currently use body cameras.
    • The 6-month–13-month retention changes may not require substantial new storage or IT costs.
    • Existing policies will need updates and officer training, but external costs are not expected to be large.

Administrative/Procedural History

  • Action: Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Judiciary Committee (March 25, 2026); multiple prior calendar placements and deferments.
  • Primary sponsor: Senator Akbari; Co-sponsor: Representative McKenzie (HB 2436).

Note: This summary reflects the version summarized in the fiscal notes and amendments circulated in March 2026.

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

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