Senate Bill 2161, also known as House Bill 2374, amends Tennessee Code Annotated regarding bail procedures for defendants who fail to appear in court for violent or sexual felony charges. The bill stipulates that if a court issues a bench warrant or capias for such a failure to appear, the defendant must be placed on any available state or federal fugitive list, including the National Crime Information Center. Additionally, the bill modifies the conditions under which a court may relieve a surety of liability for an undertaking, specifying that this can occur if the defendant has not been added to the fugitive list within three business days of the agency receiving the bench warrant or capias.

The bill makes significant changes to existing law by replacing the previous ten business days requirement with a more stringent three business days for the placement of defendants on the fugitive list. This aims to expedite the process of tracking down defendants who fail to appear in court for serious charges, thereby enhancing public safety and the efficiency of the judicial system. The act is set to take effect upon becoming law, emphasizing the urgency of its provisions for the welfare of the public.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 40-11-139(d)(1), 40-11-139, 40-11-139(d)(3)
Amended with SA0912 -- 04/09/2026: 40-11-139(d)(1), 40-11-139, 40-11-139(d)(3)