WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

SB 892

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation - As introduced, increases, from 15 to 20, the number of background investigations that the speaker of the senate and speaker of the house of representatives may request a year for persons under consideration for appointment to a position of trust and responsibility. - Amends TCA Title 38; Title 39 and Title 67.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026)

The bill increases the annual cap for background investigations requested by the Tennessee Speakers from 15 to 20 for positions of trust and responsibility.

Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Judiciary Committee
#tennesseebureauofinvestigation
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 892

Summary of Bill: SB 892 / HB 1287 (Tennessee)

Overview

  • Bill Title: Tennessee Bureau of Investigation – Background checks for positions of trust and responsibility
  • Jurisdiction: Tennessee
  • Session: 114
  • Introduced By: Senate (SB 892) and House (HB 1287)
  • Current Change Proposed: Increase the annual number of background investigations that can be requested by the presiding leaders from 15 to 20 for persons under consideration for appointment to a position of trust and responsibility.
  • Effective Date: Upon becoming law

Section-by-Section Summary

  • Section 1: Amends Tenn. Code Ann. § 38-6-106(f)
    • Change: Replaces the existing cap of fifteen (15) requests per calendar year with a new cap of twenty (20) requests per calendar year.
    • Applies to background investigations conducted by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) for individuals being considered for state government positions of trust and responsibility.
  • Section 2: General effective date
    • The act takes effect upon becoming law, with the public welfare requiring it.

Note: The bill focuses solely on increasing the annual quota of background checks that can be requested by the Speakers of the Senate and House of Representatives. It does not modify other aspects of the background check process or criteria for approval.

Purpose and Intent

  • Primary Purpose: To expand the capacity of the Speaker duo (Speaker of the Senate and Speaker of the House) to request background investigations for more individuals annually who are under consideration for high-trust, responsible state government appointments.
  • Rationale (Implied): The legislative summary indicates the change is intended to address potential needs for additional background checks without requiring a broader reform of the process.

Key Provisions and Changes

  • Increase in annual cap: From 15 to 20 background investigations per Speaker per year.
  • Scope: Applies to investigations conducted by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) for persons under consideration for a position of trust and responsibility in state government.
  • Responsibility/Control: The authority to request background checks remains with the Speakers of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Beneficiaries and Affected Parties

  • Primary Beneficiaries: Members of the Senate and House leadership who oversee appointments to positions of trust and responsibility, and the individuals under consideration for those appointments (via enhanced vetting).
  • Secondary Beneficiaries: The TBI, which conducts the background investigations, and the general public, via potentially improved screening for high-importance appointments.
  • Fiscal Considerations:
    • The fiscal note indicates the impact is not significant.
    • Any increase in investigations can be absorbed within existing resources, with no substantial new state expenditures anticipated.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Process: The bill does not alter the methodology of background checks or criteria for eligibility; it only increases the permissible annual number of requests per Speaker.
  • Effective Date: Immediate upon becoming law.
  • Legislative Path: SB 892 advanced through Senate committees and companion HB 1287 through the House, with current action in the Senate Judiciary Committee as of the latest update.

Fiscal Note (Summary)

  • Total Estimated Impact: Not significant.
  • Assumptions: The TBI can absorb incremental background checks within existing resources; the exact number of additional investigations resulting from the higher cap is unknown and may be zero.

If you’d like, I can provide a plain-language one-page briefing for non-expert readers or compare this bill to current Tennessee background-check policies.

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

Sign in to ask a question.