TN HB1545

Allows individuals convicted of specific criminal offenses to petition the court to seal their criminal history records for a $500 filing fee, effective July 1, 2026

Eligibility requires completion of all sentence requirements (fines, restitution, imprisonment, probation), no pending criminal charges, and at least 5 years without a new conviction after completing the sentence

Sealed records remain accessible to TBI/FBI for firearms transactions and handgun permits, Department of Health for vulnerable individual abuse registries, and POST commission for law enforcement officer certification

Covers 115 specific offenses including drug possession/manufacture, theft, forgery, burglary (non-habitation), arson, weapons violations, fraud, bribery, perjury, and various other felonies

New criminal charges (excluding traffic offenses) will rescind the sealing order; conviction on new charges permanently unseals records, while other dispositions reinstate the seal