Tennessee House Bill HB1547

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/13/26
• Refer: 1/15/26

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 8 and Title 38, relative to criminal justice.

Impact

If passed, the legislation would require criminal justice agencies to share extensive data with researchers, including information regarding law enforcement interactions, arrests, probation, and corrections. This shift is anticipated to bolster research in criminal justice by allowing data-driven analysis of justice policies and practices. However, the act stipulates that researchers must adhere to strict confidentiality protocols and have institutional review board approval before accessing any sensitive data, ensuring personal identification remains protected.

Summary

House Bill 1547 is a legislative effort aimed at amending the Tennessee Code Annotated, specifically focusing on criminal justice by facilitating research through enhanced access to data. The bill states that evidence-based criminal justice policies and programs yield better outcomes, and promoting access to data held by criminal justice agencies can lead to valuable research that supports public safety measures. The act aims to allow bona fide researchers access to a range of criminal justice data and records, which are often sensitive and normally shielded from public disclosure, under strict conditions designed to protect individual privacy.

Contention

HB1547 has sparked conversations around data privacy and the implications of releasing sensitive criminal justice information. Supporters of the bill have advocated for its potential to enhance transparency and inform policy improvements in public safety, arguing that access to data will lead to better crime reporting and improved community relations. Conversely, critics have raised concerns about the delicate balance between research needs and individual privacy rights, warning that access to identifiable data may inadvertently lead to misuse or overreach in law enforcement practices.