Senate Bill 2137, also known as House Bill 2504, amends Tennessee law regarding the sentencing of repeat violent offenders. The bill introduces a new subsection to Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 40-35-120, which mandates that sentencing courts determine if a defendant qualifies as a repeat violent offender under this section or Section 40-35-125. If a defendant qualifies under both statutes, the court must sentence them according to Section 40-35-120. Additionally, a new section, 40-35-125, is added, defining "prior conviction," "repeat violent offender," and "violent offense," and establishing a system of "strikes" for violent offenses committed on or after July 1, 2026.

The bill specifies that a defendant convicted of a violent offense resulting in three or more strikes, with at least two strikes from a defined list of serious offenses, will face a life sentence. The court will also consider any three-year period without criminal convictions to potentially reduce the number of strikes. The findings regarding a defendant's status as a repeat violent offender are subject to appeal, and the act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, applying to offenses occurring on or after that date.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 40-35-120