Senate Bill 2649 aims to enhance the investigation of cold cases in Tennessee by establishing a cold case division within the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. This division will be organized into three geographic regions, each led by a regional director and staffed with at least five cold case detectives. Local law enforcement agencies are required to submit unsolved missing person or homicide cases to this division after ten years without resolution. Additionally, family members of victims can request a review of their cases under specific conditions, such as the absence of a dedicated division in the local agency or if the case has remained unresolved for a decade.

The bill also allows family members to request controlled access to case files after ten years, provided they meet certain criteria, including having no criminal convictions and not being a suspect in the case. Access is limited to viewing documents, and any attempts to photograph or copy materials may lead to revocation of access. This legislation is designed to provide families with more resources and support in seeking justice for unresolved cases.