HB 1471

ON MARCH 30, 2026, THE HOUSE SUBSTITUTED SENATE BILL 1909 FOR HOUSE BILL 1471, ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1, AND RESET SENATE BILL 1909, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 rewrites the bill to, instead, create a pilot project expanding the eligibility of participants in the drug court treatment program in the first, second, and third judicial districts who are referred to the Northeast Tennessee Regional Recov ery Center. Such judicial districts include Carter, Greene, Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi, and Washington counties. The pilot project expires on June 30, 2028. ELIGIBILITY For purposes of the pilot project, this amendment provides that the presiding judge of the drug court treatment program for the first, second, and third judicial districts has discretion in determining the eligibility of participants in the drug court tr eatment program who are referred to the Northeast Tennessee Regional Recovery Center. When determining eligibility of participants in the pilot project, a "violent offender"" means a person who meets all of the following criteria: (1) Has been convicted of a felony offense within the previous 10 years, during which (i) the person carried, possessed, or used a firearm or dangerous weapon; (ii) there occurred the death of or serious bodily injury to any person; or (iii) the person committed a felony involving the use of force against the person of another. (2) Has one or more prior convictions for a felony crime of violence involving the use or attempted use of force against a person with the intent to cause death or serious bodily harm. In determining whether a defendant is a violent offender, this amendment prohibits the court from considering whether one or more of the circumstances described in (1) above is or is not an element of the offense for which the person is convicted. ON APRIL 6, 2026, THE HOUSE FURTHER CONSIDERED SENATE BILL 1909, ADOPTED AMENDMENT #2, AND HELD SENATE BILL 1909 ON THE DESK. AMENDMENT #2 removes the changes made by House Amendment #1 and restores the language of the bill as introduced. ON APRIL 6, 2026, THE HOUSE PASSED SENATE BILL 1909, AS AMENDED. ON APRIL 23, 2026, THE SENATE CONCURRED IN HOUSE AMENDMENT S #1 AND #2 ."