Subcommittee advances proposed Marcy’s Law constitutional amendment to full committee

House Joint Resolution 48, described by its sponsor as an expansion of victims’ rights commonly called Marcy’s Law, cleared the Tennessee House Criminal Justice Subcommittee and will move to the full House Judiciary Committee.

Chairman Doggett presented the measure, saying it would amend Article I, Section 35, of the Tennessee Constitution to expand opportunities for victims to be heard and to participate in the criminal-justice process. "This is what we consider to be called as Marcy's Law. It is a constitutional amendment amending, constitutional article 1, section 35, Tennessee State Constitution," Chairman Doggett said.

The subcommittee recorded no questions from members on the measure before the clerk called the vote. The clerk reported a 9-0 tally: nine yeses, zero noes. The subcommittee record notes the resolution will be considered next by the full House Judiciary Committee.

The sponsor and supporters characterized the proposal as the next step in a multi-year effort to expand statutory protections for crime victims; the transcript shows no formal amendments or conditions attached in subcommittee. No legal language beyond the constitutional article citation was read into the record during the subcommittee discussion.

The vote in subcommittee does not itself change the state constitution. As a proposed constitutional amendment, the resolution must pass the General Assembly in two separate sessions and then appear on the ballot for voter approval if it passes the legislature again.