TN HB2144

Establishes a statewide automated court appearance reminder program administered by the Administrative Office of the Courts, effective January 1, 2027

Requires at least 3 reminders before each out-of-custody criminal or traffic court appearance via text, email, or mail (at least 14 days advance for mail), at no cost to defendants

Mandates reminders include date, time, location, consequences of nonappearance, and contact information, with post-missed-appearance notices within 1 day explaining how to resolve warrants

Protects defendant privacy by prohibiting use of collected contact information for criminal investigations, law enforcement intelligence, bail determinations, or as evidence in proceedings

Requires data collection on appearance rates, warrants issued, and program enrollment to evaluate effectiveness, with research indicating such programs reduce missed appearances by 20-40%