HB 674 - SB 1159
FISCAL NOTE
Fiscal Review Committee
Tennessee General Assembly
March 6, 2025
Fiscal Analyst: Arielle Woodmore | Email: arielle.woodmore@capitol.tn.gov | Phone: 615-741-2564
HB 674 - SB 1159
SUMMARY OF BILL: Establishes the objectives of the legislation are to: (1) strengthen
family bonds by making family visitation more accessible and feasible, which has been proven to
reduce recidivism; (2) encourage good conduct and compliance with rehabilitation programs among
prisoners by providing tangible incentives for good behavior; and (3) reduce financial strain on
families that must travel across the state to visit an incarcerated loved one, often incurring significant
expenses in the process. Grants the Department of Correction (DOC) powers and duties to take
appropriate action to achieve the purposes, objectives, and policies of the legislation. Establishes
criteria that inmates must meet in order to qualify for transfer to a home county institution.
Requires the DOC, in collaboration with the Inmate Disciplinary Oversight Board, to provide a
report detailing various metrics, including family visitation metrics, the number of eligible
incarcerated persons eligible for transfer, and any fluctuations in family visitation rates after an
inmate has been transferred to a home county facility. Requires DOC to submit the required report
to certain legislative committees, at least annually.
FISCAL IMPACT:
NOT SIGNIFICANT
Assumptions:
• The proposed legislation does not require DOC to transfer inmates to a different
correctional facility; therefore, it is assumed that correctional facilities will continue to house
inmates where they are assigned.
• Based on information provided by DOC, the department attempts to designate inmates to
facilities based on their security and programming needs. The department reviews factors
that includes, but is not limited to, an inmate’s security level, mental health needs, medical
needs, length of sentence, and security threat affiliations.
• The proposed legislation establishes that in order for an inmate to be eligible for transfer to
a home county institution, the inmate must:
o Maintain a record of good behavior for at least 12 months or a different period of
time as agreed upon between unit staff at the eligible incarcerated person's
correctional facility and the eligible incarcerated person, and such agreement must
be evidenced in writing; provided, however, that any agreed upon period of time
shall not exceed the amount of time remaining in the eligible incarcerated person's
sentence for imprisonment; and
o Participate in educational, vocational, or therapeutic programs offered at the
incarcerated person's facility.
HB 674 - SB 1159 2
• It is unknown how many inmates will be eligible for transfer under the proposed legislation.
• DOC can submit the required report within existing resources.
• The proposed legislation will not significantly impact state or local government operations.
Any fiscal impact will be not significant.
CERTIFICATION:
The information contained herein is true and correct to the best of my knowledge.
Bojan Savic, Executive Director