Tennessee State Senator Brent Taylor (R-Memphis) announced he is sponsoring several crime-related bills this legislative session in an effort to fight crime and “Make Memphis Matter.”
In a letter to his colleagues in the Tennessee State Senate, Taylor detailed 13 pieces of legislation he is sponsoring and asked his colleagues to consider sponsoring the bills as well.
One of the bills sponsored by Taylor, SB 2563, would criminalize violations of bail conditions by classifying such violations as a Class A Misdemeanor, which carries an additional year to the underlying charge if convicted. The bill would also allow the offender to be immediately arrested, forcing a new court appearance if bail conditions are violated.
Another bill sponsored by Taylor, SB 2562, would elevate the Safety of the Community as the first consideration when a judge sets bail for a defendant so that a defendant deemed a threat to the public would be denied bail.
An additional bill addressing bail sponsored by Taylor, SB 2565, would ban judges from using “ability to pay” bail systems, which are bail calculators that determine what a defendant’s bail should be set based on the amount of money immediately available.
Other bills focused on fighting crime that Taylor is sponsoring include SB 2574, which would make possession of a stolen firearm a felony regardless of the value of the firearm, and SB 2575, which would allow a store employee to report a shoplifting incident to the police in real-time despite any policy to the contrary from a place of employment.
Regarding combat crimes committed by juveniles, Taylor is sponsoring SB 2571, which would require Juvenile Court Judges to assess a $1,000 penalty to any parent upon the second, and any subsequent offenses, committed by a juvenile.
When it comes to policing crime, Taylor is sponsoring SB 2572, which would prohibit local governments from restricting a police department’s ability to perform “effective policing procedures” such as routine traffic stops.
“In the coming weeks, I will be bringing additional legislation relative to crime. In my hometown, crime is the only issue. It is a serious economic development issue as much as it is a public safety issue,” Taylor said in the letter to his colleagues. “Tennessee will not reach her full potential if her most famous city is sliding into chaos.”
“We, members of the General Assembly, are in a position to save our vibrant and diverse city from certain ruin. But, we must act now! Again, thank you for your encouragement during my first year in the Senate, and I thank you for your consideration of these important bills,” Taylor added.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
Photo “Brent Taylor” by Senator Brent Taylor. Background Photo “Tennessee State Senate Chambers” by Antony-22. CC BY-SA 4.0.
