Senate Bill 445 and House Bill 486 propose amendments to the Tennessee Code Annotated regarding district public defenders. The bill modifies Section 8-14-204 by changing the timeframe for certain actions from "ten (10) days" to "ten (10) business days." Additionally, it introduces a new section in Title 8, Chapter 14, Part 1, which establishes five (5) additional assistant district public defender positions, effective July 1, 2025.

The bill emphasizes the need for these changes to enhance the public defender system in Tennessee, ensuring that legal representation is more accessible and efficient. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, with the intention of improving the welfare of the public by bolstering the resources available to district public defenders.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 8-14-204
Amended with HA0380 -- 04/21/2025: 8-14-204