Bill > SB1599

This bill, amending Tennessee Code Annotated Titles 39 and 40, prohibits courts from charging a defendant with court costs in criminal proceedings under specific circumstances. These circumstances include when a defendant is found not guilty by a jury or a judge in a bench trial for all accusations, when the state dismisses the prosecution or enters a "nolle prosequi" (meaning the state decides not to proceed with the case), or when the court itself dismisses the charges against the defendant. This change aims to ensure that individuals who are not convicted of any crime are not held financially responsible for the costs associated with their legal proceedings.