Tennessee’s New Repeat Domestic Violence Offender Registry
By: Isabella Morrow
As of January 1, 2026, Savanna’s Law has taken effect in Tennessee, creating the first ever domestic violence offender registry in the nation. [1] The idea behind a repeat domestic violence registry originated after tragedy struck Robertson County Deputy Sheriff Savanna Puckett in 2022.[2] The bill, first introduced in early 2025, was sponsored by State Representative Sabi “Doc” Kumar in the House of Representatives and co-sponsored by Senator Becky Massey in the Senate.[3] With overwhelming support from both sides of the political aisle, the Tennessee General Assembly unanimously passed Savanna’s Law.[4] Governor Bill Lee signed the bill into law on May 21, 2025, and it took effect on the first of this year.[5] Many Tennesseans strongly support the law’s aim because of the significant number of individuals who have become victims of domestic violence in the state. But a question remains: what can we expect now that Savanna’s Law has taken effect?
The Law
Enacted as Tennessee Public Chapter 520, Savanna’s Law makes Tennessee the first state to allow a court to order individuals convicted of second or subsequent domestic violence offenses to register as a persistent domestic violence offender on a public registry.[6] The law defines “persistent domestic violence offender” as a person who:
(A) Has been convicted in this state of an offense committed against a domestic abuse victim; and
(B) Has at least one (1) prior conviction for an offense committed against a domestic abuse victim.[7]
The law goes on to lay out the process of maintaining the registry and specifies exactly what information must be included for every repeat domestic violence offender listed within the registry. The statute states:
(a) There is created within the TBI a registry of persistent domestic violence offenders.[8]
(b) The TBI shall maintain this registry based upon information supplied to the TBI by the court clerks pursuant to subsections (c) and (d) and information available to the TBI from the department of correction and local law enforcement agencies. The TBI shall make the registry available for public inquiry on the internet.[9]
(c) The registry must consist of the persistent domestic violence offender’s name, date of birth, conviction date, county or counties of convictions, and a current photograph of the persistent domestic violence offender. If available after reasonable inquiry, the court clerk shall provide the TBI with a copy of the persistent domestic violence offender’s driver license, or other state or federal identification, and such other identifying data as the TBI determines is necessary to properly identify the persistent domestic violence offender and exclude innocent persons. However, the registry available for public inquiry must not include the persistent domestic violence offender’s address, social security number, driver license number, or any other state or federal identification number.[10]
The statute makes clear that it only applies to persons convicted of an offense committed against a domestic abuse victim that occurred on or after January 1, 2026.[11] However, the person’s prior conviction is not required to occur on or after January 1, 2026.[12] Lastly, the statute explains a process of information removal, where individuals may apply to have their information completely removed if certain conditions apply to their case.[13]
Origination of Savanna’s Law
The creation and enactment of this legislation was fueled by the devastating story of Robertson County Sheriff’s Deputy Savanna Puckett, a twenty-two year old who was tragically killed by her ex-boyfriend.[14] Following Savanna Puckett’s death, investigators discovered her ex-boyfriend’s extensive history of stalking and domestic violence, which was information that was not readily available at the time.[15] Her ex-boyfriend is serving a life sentence, as he pled guilty to first-degree premeditated murder.[16] Savanna Puckett’s death profoundly impacted communities, leading lawmakers to inspect how habitual domestic violence offenders are tracked and monitored.[17] Lawmakers believed a registry could effectively supply both communities and law enforcement with a tool that shares the identity of repeat domestic violence offenders, as well as overarching domestic violence patterns across counties.[18]
Key Concerns from Domestic Violence Advocates
Domestic violence advocates have raised two main concerns with the enactment of Savanna’s Law.[19] First, the registry only includes repeat offenders, so the presence of the registry could create a false sense of security.[20] Since first-time offenders are not included in the registry and not every individual’s behavior will be reported,[21] the registry will not contain every domestic violence offender in the state. Advocates emphasize that the registry is just one tool in the grand scheme of utilizing safety planning techniques for relationships.[22] The public should not solely rely on the registry for their awareness of and protection against domestic violence offenders. Additionally, the issue of criminalizing survivors has been raised by domestic violence advocates.[23] Victims of abuse may agree to plead guilty and receive a domestic violence conviction as a solution to any immediate pressures they may be faced with.[24] For instance, a victim may plead guilty in order to avoid retaliation from their abusive partner.[25] Hence, there is a significant concern that victims could be punished unintentionally.[26] However, the aim of the law is to prevent future domestic violence offenses through information sharing, rather than to punish offenders.[27] Notwithstanding, it will be important for Tennessee to observe the impact Savanna’s Law will have on the community and how it will be applied by the courts.
The Hopeful Impact on Domestic Violence Cases
Just in 2023, the total amount of individuals who reported domestic violence abuse in Tennessee amounted to 60,479.[28] Savanna’s Law is a significant step toward tracking repeat domestic violence offenders and spreading awareness about both the issue of domestic violence and its patterns within communities. Savanna’s Law applies to additional crimes, like sexual assault, stalking, and homicide—when classified as domestic offenses—which gives the registry more information to monitor and track for the public.[29] Not only is there hope that Savanna’s Law will increase offender accountability and reduce recidivism rates, but it may also empower potential victims to remain vigilant and avoid dangerous situations.[30] Abusers will be identifiable to help communities and survivors make safer choices. There is hope that this law will reduce future intimate partner homicide rates, since this registry will be a tool that individuals can use to make more informed decisions about their relationships.[31] Although victims often fear their offender will go back and do a similar act to another individual, this registry, which will showcase patterns, now adds a layer of protection for survivors and the public.[32]
[1] H.B. 1200, 114th Gen. Assemb., Reg. Sess. (Tenn. 2025).
[2] Savanna’s Law Unanimously Passed the Tennessee General Assembly, Thunder Radio (June 10, 2025), https://thunder1320.com/savannas-law-unanimously-passed-the-tennessee-general-assembly/.
[3] Id.
[4] Id.
[5] H.B. 1200, 114th Gen. Assemb., Reg. Sess. (Tenn. 2025).
[6] 2025 Tenn. Pub. Acts ch. 520.
[7] 2025 Tenn. Pub. Acts ch. 520.
[8] 2025 Tenn. Pub. Acts ch. 520.
[9] 2025 Tenn. Pub. Acts ch. 520.
[10] 2025 Tenn. Pub. Acts ch. 520.
[11] 2025 Tenn. Pub. Acts ch. 520.
[12] 2025 Tenn. Pub. Acts ch. 520.
[13] Jennifer Waindle, Savanna’s Law: What Tennessee’s New Domestic Violence Registry Means for Safety and Accountability, BWJP (Jan. 12, 2026), https://bwjp.org/savannas-law-what-tennessees-new-domestic-violence-registry-means-for-safety-and-accountability/.
[14] Sara Smith, Savanna’s Law’ Takes Effect Jan. 1, 2026, Creating Tennessee’s Habitual Domestic Violence Offender Registry, WKRN.COM (Dec. 28, 2025, at 18:30 CT), https://www.wkrn.com/news/tennessee-news/savannas-law-takes-effect-jan-1-2026/#:~:text=1%2C%202026%2C%20creating%20Tennessee’s%20habitual,between%20two%20and%2020%20years.
[15] Waindle, supra note 13.
[16] Id.
[17] Id.
[18] Id.
[19] Id.
[20] Id.
[21] Waindle, supra note 13.
[22] Id.
[23] Id.
[24] Id.
[25] Id.
[26] Id.
[27] Chris Nalls, Tennessee’s Domestic Violence Registry Goes into Effect Today, First in the Nation,News Channel 9 (Jan. 1, 2026, at 16:05 ET), https://newschannel9.com/news/local/tennessees-domestic-violence-registry-goes-into-effect-today-first-in-the-nation.
[28] Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, 2023 Domestic Violence in Tennessee 2, https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/tbi/documents/Domestic%20Violence%202023%20Final%20SECURED.pdf.
[29] Waindle, supra note 13.
[30] Id.
[31] Id.
[32] Nalls, supra note 27.
tennesseelawreview.org 