House Bill 452 amends Tennessee eviction laws, specifically addressing the timeline and procedures for unlawful detainer actions based on nonpayment of rent. The bill stipulates that the officer serving the warrant must notify the defendant of the trial's time and place, which must occur at least six days after service. For cases solely concerning nonpayment of rent, the trial must be held within fourteen days of the plaintiff filing the action. Additionally, a new section is added to limit the scope of hearings for nonpayment cases to relevant facts, such as the lease agreement and payment history.

The bill also modifies the issuance of writs of possession following a judgment in unlawful detainer actions. It establishes that a writ must not be issued until ten days after the judgment, except in cases of nonpayment, where it can be issued within twenty-four hours. The defendant is then required to vacate the property within seven days of receiving the writ. If the defendant does not comply, the plaintiff can request immediate removal by the sheriff. This act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 29-18-117, 29-18-126