Sen. Chip Taylor wins committee approval for weekly disclosure of Memphis Safe Task Force case changes
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Summary
The Senate Judiciary Committee adopted an amendment to SB 14‑67 requiring weekly disclosure when prosecutors lower charges, dismiss cases, breach plea agreements or decline prosecution of cases arising from the Memphis Safe Task Force; sponsor said the bill requires disclosure but does not limit district‑attorney discretion.
Sen. Chip Taylor told the Senate Judiciary Committee he sponsored an amendment to SB 14‑67 that would require weekly disclosure to the U.S. attorney, the state attorney general, the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference and legislative leaders whenever a prosecutor lowers charges, dismisses a case, breaches a plea agreement or otherwise declines to prosecute a case that originated with the Memphis Safe Task Force.
"This legislation does not restrict the DA's discretion. It only requires disclosure," Taylor said, arguing the requirement will help federal prosecutors pick up cases with a federal nexus and "lock in these historic gains relative to the Memphis Safe Task Force." He read a string of enforcement statistics and said the U.S. Marshals and DA conference helped draft the amendment and were supportive or neutral on it.
Why it matters: the amendment focuses on transparency and information‑sharing between local prosecutors and federal authorities for cases that began through the Memphis Safe Task Force. Taylor said roughly 25% of those arrests are tried in federal court and, without state disclosure, the U.S. attorney may not learn a case was dropped at the state level.
A committee question came from Sen. Kyle, who asked whether the requirement is limited to Shelby County. Taylor replied the rule applies to any district attorney receiving cases that originated with the Memphis Safe Task Force, noting most will be in Shelby County but that other counties could be affected. Kyle also asked what the data would show and how it would improve prosecutions; Taylor repeated the bill only requires disclosure and does not change prosecutorial decision‑making.
The committee adopted the amendment and took a recorded vote. The clerk announced a committee tally of 6 ayes and 1 no, after which the chair stated the bill would advance with the amendment.
Next steps: the amendment was adopted in committee; the committee record indicates the measure will proceed with the amendment in place.
