Tennessee House Bill HB2023

Tennessee 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/23/24
• Refer: 1/25/24

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39; Title 40 and Title 68, relative to contents of warrants.

Impact

If enacted, HB2023 will directly affect the procedures for issuing warrants within the state. By requiring that warrants include contact information, the bill intends to empower citizens by giving them necessary resources to contact law enforcement if they have inquiries about a specific warrant. This could potentially lead to a decrease in confusion surrounding warrants and contribute to better public understanding of law enforcement procedures, ultimately reinforcing the principle of transparency in policing.

Summary

House Bill 2023 aims to amend existing provisions in the Tennessee Code Annotated concerning the necessary contents of warrants issued by law enforcement agencies. The primary purpose of this bill is to enhance transparency and accountability in law enforcement practices by mandating that all warrants include specific contact information for the issuing agency, notably a telephone number. This requirement is designed to provide individuals the means to verify the legitimacy of a warrant and to facilitate communication regarding the warrant itself.

Contention

While the bill appears to be straightforward, it may invite discussions about the implications of such requirements on law enforcement operations. Critics may argue about the practicality of adding contact information to every warrant, including concerns about officer safety and the potential for misuse of the information. However, proponents of the bill advocate for the importance of transparency in all aspects of law enforcement, asserting that providing contact information is a reasonable step towards improved relations between police and the communities they serve.