Marsy's Law Crime Victims Rights Amendment
Tennessee Ballot Measure -
Election: Nov. 3, 2026 (General)
Outcome: Pending
Categories:
Criminal JusticeConstitution
Summary
Marsy's Law is named for Marsalee 'Marsy' Nicholas, a woman who was murdered by her ex-boyfriend in 1983. Efforts to institute Marsy's Law across the U.S. have been primarily backed by Henry Nicholas, Marsy's brother and co-founder of Broadcom Corporation. A week after Marsy's murder, Henry and his mother encountered her ex-boyfriend at a grocery store after he was released on bail; Henry and his mother were unaware of his release. In 2009, Henry founded Marsy's Law for All LLC, the national organization advocating for Marsy's Law. The organization describes its mission in the following way: "Marsys Law for All seeks to amend state constitutions that dont offer protections to crime victims and, eventually, the U.S. Constitution to give victims of crime rights equal to those already afforded to the accused and convicted."
Different states have adopted varying versions of Marsy's Law, with some discrepancies in what rights are included. Marsy's Law generally includes the right to be notified of criminal proceedings, the right to be heard at proceedings, the right to be protected from the accused, the right to be notified of the release of the accused, and the right to have the safety of the victim and the general public considered when bail and release decisions are made.
Measure Text
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTEENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING, that a two-thirds majority of all members of each house concurring, as shown by the yeas and nays entered on their journals, that it is proposed that Article I, Section 35 of the Constitution of Tennessee be amended by deleting the section in its entirety and substituting the following:
Section 35. That to preserve and protect the rights of victims of crime to justice and due process throughout the criminal and juvenile justice systems, a victim, as defined by law and which may be expanded by the General Assembly, shall have the following rights, which shall be protected:
(1) The right to be treated with fairness for the victim's safety and dignity;
(2) The right, upon request, to reasonable notice of all public criminal proceedings and all public juvenile delinquency proceedings involving the accused;
(3) The right to be present at all public criminal proceedings and all public juvenile delinquency proceedings involving the accused;
(4) The right upon request to be heard in any proceeding involving release, plea, sentencing, disposition, and parole, as well as any public proceeding when relevant during which a right of the victim is implicated;
(5) The right to be heard and informed of all parole procedures, to participate in the parole process, to provide information to the parole authority to be considered before the parole of the offender, and to be notified, upon request, of the parole or other release of the offender;
(6) The right to be free from harassment, intimidation, and abuse throughout the criminal justice system, including reasonable protection, as defined by the General Assembly, from the accused or any person acting on behalf of the accused;
(7) The right, upon request, to reasonable notice of any release, transfer, or escape of the accused or convicted person;
(8) The right to full and timely restitution from the offender;
(9) The right to a speedy trial or disposition and a prompt and final conclusion of the case after the conviction or sentence;
(10) The right to be informed of the minimum sentence the offender will serve in custody and the scheduled release date;
(11) The right to have the safety of the victim, the victim's family, and the general public considered before any parole or other post-judgment release decision is made;
(12) The right, upon request, to confer with the prosecution; and
(13) The right to be fully informed of all rights afforded to crime victims. A victim may assert the rights enumerated in this section, not as a party, but in the manner further provided by the General Assembly protecting the victim's right to standing. The General Assembly has the authority to enact substantive and procedural laws to further define, implement, preserve, and protect the rights guaranteed to victims by this section. This section must be interpreted to preserve and protect the rights of all persons to due process. This section, or any law enacted under this section, does not create a basis for vacating a conviction. This section does not restrict the powers of the District Attorney General or the inherent authority of the court. Other than as provided in the preceding paragraph, this section does not create a cause of action or claim for damages against the state or a political subdivision of the state; an officer, employee, or agent of the state or of any of its political subdivisions; or an officer or employee of the court.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that, in accordance with Article XI, Section 3 of the Constitution of Tennessee, the foregoing proposed amendment shall be submitted to the people at the next general election in which a governor is to be chosen, the same being the 2026 November general election, and the Secretary of State is directed to place such proposed amendment on the ballot for that election.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Clerk of the Senate is directed to deliver copies of this resolution to the Secretary of State, with this final resolving clause being deleted from such copies.
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