NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — State lawmakers announced their support for a constitutional amendment letting judges deny bail for people accused of a wider variety of crimes, keeping them behind bars before their trial.
Right now, that option is only allowed for crimes like first-degree murder, which carry the possibility of the death penalty.
But the change would extend that to other crimes, like second-degree murder and aggravated kidnapping.
The road to that change is a long one.
It starts with this year's legislature approving the change, but then next year's newly elected legislature would also have to approve the change — in 2025.
If that happens, the measure would head to the ballot for Tennessee voters to decide the year after, in 2026.
"It's interesting because the person who is pushing it is one of the people rumored to be a candidate for governor in 2026, Cameron Sexton," said NewsChannel 5 Political Analyst Pat Nolan. "Right now, he's the state house speaker, but he may well be a Republican candidate for Governor in 2026.
Unlike many bills proposed by state lawmakers, this one appears to have support from at least some Democrats in addition to the Republican super-majority.
This is a story I immediately went home and showed my boys - young athletes with big dreams. The Vanderbilt football team's success has stolen the spotlight - what I love about Steve Layman's story is he reveals the individual hardships it took to get there. As Clark Lea says, "we all have scuff marks." This team proves perseverance pays off!
- Carrie Sharp
