Ability to pay removed as a factor in bail decisions
Enacted5/10
⚖ challenge pending; law in effect
Tennessee · Tennessee HB 1719 (Pub. Ch. 869) · Enacted May 7, 2024
Impact 5/10
Prohibits courts from considering a defendant's financial ability to pay when setting bail, making pretrial detention more likely for low-income defendants. A federal challenge (Just City v. Bonner) survived dismissal but a preliminary injunction was denied in November 2024; the law remains in effect.
Policing & justiceSafety net & benefitsLow-income
Sources
✓ Verified against primary sources 2026-08-15