Tennessee's governor vetoes easier denial of parole bill, his first since taking office
- Tennessee Governor Bill Lee vetoed SB0455/HB0527 on Monday, blocking a bill to remove parole board limitations.
- The bill, sponsored by Republicans including Rep. Rick Scarbrough, aimed to expand parole denial beyond 22 violent crimes under the 2021 Reentry Success Act.
- The legislation received strong bipartisan approval in both chambers—75-16 in the House and 22-4 in the Senate—and was supported by the state's association of district attorneys general, with no debates or amendments during the process.
- Governor Lee argued that the bill would reverse progress made in reducing repeat offenses, emphasizing that addressing recidivism is essential to effectively combat crime, and expressed trust in the current parole system's safeguards.
- Representative Scarbrough plans to seek a veto override in January, reflecting legislative intent to revisit the measure despite Lee’s veto and GOP supermajority.
21 Articles
21 Articles
Senate passes bill to restructure Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles
On Tuesday, the Alabama Senate passed Senate Bill 324, sponsored by Sen. Clyde Chambliss, R-Prattville, which would restructure Alabama’s controversial Board of Pardons and Paroles. The bill previously passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee in April. Chambliss’ legislation aims to expand the parole board from three members to five, and remove the power to appoint the board’s chair from the governor, instead having the board itself appoint …

Gov. Lee vetoes easier denial of parole bill, his first since taking office
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee vetoed his first bill since taking office in 2019, nixing a measure that would have made it easier for a state board to deny parole. The move by the governor Tuesday to strike down stricter probation rules was no surprise to criminal reform advocates.
Gov. Bill Lee issues first-ever veto to reject bill making it easier to deny parole
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — For the first time since taking office in 2019, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has vetoed a bill approved by state lawmakers. The bill would expand the Board of Parole's authority to deny early release based on the severity of the offense. The bill would've taken effect immediately upon becoming law. The Tennessee General Assembly could override the veto with a simple majority in the next legislative session. Under current sta…


Tennessee's governor vetoes easier denial of parole bill
Gov. Bill Lee had previously only shown his displeasure with bills by working to get them changed or defeated in the committee process, or, in rarer instances, letting them go into law without signing them.
Tennessee’s governor vetoes easier denial of parole bill, his first since taking office
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has vetoed his first bill since taking office in 2019, nixing a measure that would make it easier for a state board to deny parole.

Tennessee's governor vetoes easier denial of parole bill, his first since taking office
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has vetoed his first bill since taking office in 2019, nixing a measure that would make it easier for a state board to deny parole. The Republican’s veto Monday eliminates the bill for now. But Tennessee…
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