Governor Lee Signs Bill Allowing Courts To Consider Juvenile Records When Setting Bail

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The Tennessee Conservative [By Adelia Kirchner] –

On Friday Governor Bill Lee (R-TN) signed legislation into law that allows judges to consider juvenile records as a factor when setting bond for criminal offenses, a practice that Tennessee code previously prohibited.

Senate Bill 221/House Bill 34 (SB0221/HB0034) was sponsored in the General Assembly this year by Sen. Brent Taylor (R-Memphis-District 31) and Rep. John Gillespie (R-Memphis-District 97).

The legislation “permits a court to use juvenile court records, including the disposition and evidence, in pretrial reports used to set bond for criminal offenses; requires the magistrate to consider the defendant’s prior juvenile record in determining the defendant’s risk of danger to the community.”

It was amended by lawmakers in the Senate to specify that the court can use juvenile court records in pretrial reports to set bonds if the juvenile offense occurred within the previous five years.

The bill passed in the Senate by a 25-5 vote on March 3^rd and in the House of Representatives by a 73-22 vote on the last day of Tennessee’s 2025 legislative session, April 22^nd.

Co-sponsors of SB0221/HB0034 included Republican Senator Paul Rose, Republican Representatives Kevin Vaughan, Jeremy Faison, Debra Moody, Andrew Farmer, Mark White, Tom Leatherwood and Dennis Powers, alongside Democrat Representative G.A. Hardaway.

When a bill passes in both legislative chambers of the Tennessee General Assembly, it is sent to the governor’s desk where the governor has the option to sign the bill, veto it, or allow it to become law without his signature. 

Gov. Lee signed SB0221/HB0034 into law on Friday, May 9^th, 2025.

This legislation took effect immediately upon becoming law.

About the Author: Adelia Kirchner is a Tennessee resident and reporter for the Tennessee Conservative. Currently the host of Subtle Rampage Podcast, she has also worked for the South Dakota State Legislature and interned for Senator Bill Hagerty’s Office in Nashville, Tennessee.  You can reach Adelia at adelia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.