Tennessee · 114th Regular Session (2025-2026) · Bill

SB 944: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, requires the department of mental health and substance abuse services to establish a mental health evaluation process for a community mental health center or qualified mental health professional to evaluate a defendant convicted of domestic assault, child abuse, aggravated child abuse, cruelty to animals, aggravated cruelty to animals; requires a court in which a person is convicted of any such offense to order the offender to undergo a mental health evaluation prior to the sentencing hearing. - Amends TCA Title 33; Title 39 and Title 40.

In committee Last action May 27, 2025: Comp. became Pub. Ch. 511

Plain-language summary

SB 944 is a bill introduced in the Tennessee Senate on February 5, 2025. According to its official title, it concerns: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, requires the department of mental health and substance abuse services to establish a mental health evaluation process for a community mental health center or qualified mental health professional to evaluate a defendant convicted of domestic assault, child abuse, aggravated child abuse, cruelty to animals, aggravated cruelty to animals; requires a court in which a person is convicted of any such offense to order the offender to undergo a mental health evaluation prior to the sentencing hearing. - Amends TCA Title 33; Title 39 and Title 40. Primary sponsor: Becky Massey (Republican). Most recent recorded action (May 27, 2025): Comp. became Pub. Ch. 511.

Sponsors

Primary sponsor: Becky Massey (Republican).