Bonnie Brezina, who serves as the state director of Marsy’s Law for Tennessee, said the proposed constitutional amendment that would expand the rights of crime victims is still on track to be presented to voters on the 2026 general election ballot.
Marsy’s Law, which passed the Tennessee House unanimously and the State Senate by a 27-3 vote earlier this year, must again pass both chambers by a two-thirds majority this upcoming legislative session in order to be presented to voters in 2026.
If approved by voters in 2026, the measure would amend Article I, Section 35 of the Constitution of Tennessee to expand the rights of victims of crime.
On Wednesday’s edition of The Michael Patrick Leahy Show, Brezina described the proposed constitutional amendment as “pretty simple and straightforward.”
“The goal is to enforce rights for crime victims here in Tennessee,” Brezina said.
Brezina explained that Marsy’s Law is named after Marsalee Ann Nicholas, a young woman who was stalked and murdered in 1983 by her ex-boyfriend. After his arrest for the murder, the man was released one day later on bail and continued to stalk the Nicholas family – who was not notified by the judicial system of the man’s release.
“It’s bipartisan. It started in California. It’s been passed in California, Nevada, Ohio, Kentucky, Georgia, Florida and Tennessee will be the 13th state if we can get it done,” Brezina said.
Marsy’s Law would specifically grant victims of crime in the state the following thirteen rights:
- The right to be treated with fairness for the victim’s safety and dignity;
- The right, upon request, to reasonable notice of all criminal public proceedings and all juvenile delinquency proceedings involving the accused;
- The right to be present at all public criminal proceedings and all public juvenile delinquency proceedings involving the accused;
- The right upon request to be heard in any proceeding involving release, plea, sentencing, disposition, and parole, as well as any public proceeding when relevant during which a right of the victim is implicated;
- The right to be heard and informed of all parole procedures, to participate in the parole process, to provide information to the parole authority to be considered before the parole of the offender, and to be notified, upon request, of the parole or other release of the offender;
- The right to be free from harassment, intimidation, and abuse throughout the criminal justice system, including reasonable protection, as defined by the General Assembly, from the accused or any person acting on behalf of the accused;
- The right, upon request, to reasonable notice of any release, transfer, or escape of the accused or convicted person;
- The right to full and timely restitution from the offender;
- The right to a speedy trial or disposition and a prompt and final conclusion of the case after the conviction or sentence;
- The right to be informed of the minimum sentence the offender will serve in custody and the scheduled release date;
- The right to have the safety of the victim, the victim’s family, and the general public considered before any parole or other post-judgment release decision is made;
- The right, upon request, to confer with the prosecution; and
- The right to be fully informed of all rights afforded to crime victims.
Marsy’s Law is one of three proposed constitutional amendments for the 2026 general election ballot.
Watch the full interview:
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
Item 9, the right to a speedy trial will not likely hold up to Court scrutiny if challenged. That is a Constitutional right, defined in 6A, afforded to the accused. it is not afforded to the prosecution (or victim).