Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee issues first-ever veto, blocking bill giving parole board more power
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee vetoed the first bill of his administration, knocking back a piece of legislation that would have given the state parole board more discretion to deny parole to state prisoners.
The legislation would have allowed the Board of Parole to reject parole requests based solely on the crime the person committed, without considering other factors such as behavior during incarceration or the completion of education programs.
Currently, the board can only reject parole based on the seriousness of the crime for certain violent and sexual offenses.
In a letter to GOP leaders, Lee said Senate Bill 455 would unwind a "meaningful part" of a 2021 criminal justice reform act that received bipartisan support in the legislature.
"Together we recognized that the vast majority of offenders will return to our communities, and their successful reentry impacts the safety of every neighborhood for the better," Lee said in a May 5 letter notifying the Senate and House speakers of his veto decision. "Two years later, Tennessee achieved the lowest recidivism rate in state history, meaning fewer crimes and fewer victims. And I am confident that the Board of Parole and other safeguards ensure parole is awarded appropriately. (SB 455) unwinds a meaningful part of the Reentry Success Act, which is a step backwards from safer Tennessee communities."
The veto was a surprising move for Lee, who has previously resisted striking down any legislation in the first six years since he took office in 2019.
The historic veto also came on a bill that passed quietly and quickly through the General Assembly this year.
Lee's veto puts him at odds with the Republican supermajority in both chambers, who voted in favor of the legislation and now have the power to override his veto.
Lawmakers could call themselves back into session to override the veto or move to do so at the beginning of the 2026 legislative session, which would be Lee's last as governor. In Tennessee, lawmakers can override a gubernatorial veto by simple majority.
Though surprising given his reticence to use the veto prior, Lee's actions align with some criminal justice reform he sought earlier in his administration to divert people away from prison and expand support for people leaving custody.
Lee has sometimes clashed with GOP lawmakers in the past over this reform legislation, particularly over measures that might increase prison populations or decrease incentives designed for rehabilitation.
After passing the 2021 reform legislation, Lee locked heads with General Assembly leadership in 2022 over a controversial "truth in sentencing" bill, which effectively lengthened some prison sentences in the state.
The governor declined to sign the legislation, allowing it to take effect without his signature.
Senate Bill 455 moved quickly through the General Assembly this year and passed both chambers with no floor debates, which typically happen on controversial legislation. Votes fell along party lines, with most Democrats voting against the bill.
Sen. Paul Rose, R-Sparta, said in March he sponsored the bill at the request of the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference.
"The parole board should be given the greatest discretion to determine which among those inmates deserve to be kept from among us and those which can be released back into society," District Attorney General Conference executive director Stephen Crump said in a March committee hearing.
Crump said some "significant offenses" were not included in the current statute, including reckless homicide, carjacking and continuous sexual abuse of a child.
In the Senate Judiciary Committee, some senators expressed concern with allowing the parole board to block parole without considering other factors. Sen. Kerry Roberts, R-Springfield, said the sentencing structure is "designed to dangle carrots in front of inmates, so they'll behave to get out."
"We're trying to incentivize people to behave, to rehabilitate themselves, to learn a skill, whatever the thing might be to get out," Roberts said. "I'm struggling with why are we giving the parole board more discretion to say no to people, instead of less."
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: TN Gov. Bill Lee issues first-ever veto, blocking parole board bill
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