Constitutional Amendment #1 (SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 919 (113th) & SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 25 (114th))
explanatory_statement = Attorney General summary as posted by SOS.
yes_means/no_means are the SOS page's generic statements covering every amendment.
Passage requires majority of votes on the question AND yes votes > half of votes cast for governor.
Tennessee publishes no official pro/con arguments or fiscal notes for amendments.
GAP-FILL 2026-10-10: fiscal_impact quoted verbatim from Tennessee Fiscal Review Committee, Fiscal Note on SJR0025 (114th General Assembly), "FISCAL IMPACT" section (https://capitol.tn.gov/Bills/114/Fiscal/SJR0025.pdf). Single-sourced (one official document).
Shall Article I, Section 15 of the Constitution of Tennessee be amended by deleting the following: That all prisoners shall be bailable by sufficient sureties, unless for capital offences, when the proof is evident, or the presumption great. And the privilege of the writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in case of rebellion or invasion, the General Assembly shall declare the public safety requires it. and substituting instead the following: (a) All prisoners shall be bailable by sufficient sureties unless for the following when the proof is evident or the presumption great: (1) A capital offense; (2) An act of terrorism; (3) Second degree murder; (4) Aggravated rape of a child; (5) Aggravated rape; (6) Grave torture; and (7) Any other offense for which, as of November 3, 2026, a defendant, if convicted, could not be released prior to the expiration of at least eighty-five percent of the entire sentence imposed. (b) In any case in which bail for an offense listed in subsection (a) is granted or denied before conviction, the judge or magistrate shall place in the record the judge's or magistrate's reasons for granting or denying bail. (c) The privilege of the writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in case of rebellion or invasion, the General Assembly shall declare the public safety requires it.
A “yes” vote is a vote to amend the Constitution and adopt the language in the proposed amendment.
A “no” vote is a vote to keep the current language in the Constitution unchanged.
This amendment changes Article I, section 15 of the Tennessee Constitution by allowing a court to hold a defendant without bail before trial when that defendant is accused of: an offense punishable by the death penalty, an act of terrorism, second degree murder, aggravated rape of a child, aggravated rape, grave torture, or any crime for which a convicted person would be required to serve eighty-five percent of their sentence. This amendment requires courts to state on the record the reasons for their decision to grant or deny bail in those cases.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURES FY26-27 Mandatory $9,400 Article II, Section 24 of the Tennessee Constitution provides that: no law of general application shall impose increased expenditure requirements on cities or counties unless the General Assembly shall provide that the state share in the cost.
Not published by the state
Not published by the state
Both columns use the same layout. Text is quoted from the official state guide. Views expressed belong to the argument authors.