SB 19 – HB 96
FISCAL NOTE
Fiscal Review Committee
Tennessee General Assembly
February 6, 2025
Fiscal Analyst: Arielle Woodmore | Email: arielle.woodmore@capitol.tn.gov | Phone: 615-741-2564
SB 19 – HB 96
SUMMARY OF BILL: Lessens the criteria required for the Attorney General and Reporter
(AG) to be authorized to investigate and initiate the criminal prosecution of a judge, chancellor,
judicial elected official, or District Attorney General (DAG).
FISCAL IMPACT:
NOT SIGNIFICANT
Assumptions:
• Pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-6-112(a), the AG has the authority to investigate and
initiate the criminal prosecution of any judge, chancellor, judicial elected official, or DAG
whenever:
o The AG receives information sufficient to constitute probable cause to investigate
whether any official may have violated any state criminal law;
o A decision to prosecute the official by the DAG of the district in which the offense
occurred or in which a portion of the offense occurred may result in a personal,
financial or political conflict of interest; and
o The AG receives a report of a violation of the Tennessee State Employees Uniform
Nepotism Policy Act of 1980.
• The proposed legislation authorizes the AG to investigate and initiate a criminal
prosecution of any such official whenever the AG receives information sufficient to
constitute probable cause and either of the other two enumerated conditions exist, rather
than the authority being predicated on the existence of all three enumerated conditions.
• The AG can conduct any additional investigations by utilizing existing resources.
• Any additional workload on the courts can be accommodated within existing resources and
personnel.
CERTIFICATION:
The information contained herein is true and correct to the best of my knowledge.
Bojan Savic, Executive Director