Tennessee Voters Approve Three Constitutional Amendments
Voters approved amendments on bail, a statewide property tax ban and victims' rights on Tuesday, with 65 percent of the vote counted.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Criminal Justice
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Tennessee voters approved three constitutional amendments on Tuesday: Amendment 1 on bail, Amendment 2 banning statewide property taxes, and Amendment 3 on victims' rights. With 65 percent of the vote counted, Amendments 1 and 2 each received 66 percent and Amendment 3 received 75 percent.
Why it matters
The bail amendment gives judges the option of denying bail to people charged with particularly violent offenses, a change supporters say addresses public safety. Opponents argued it will do nothing to keep communities safe and will likely keep incarceration rates rising.
Amendment 1 on bail, Amendment 2 banning statewide property taxes, and Amendment 3 on victims' rights are now law, with 66, 66, and 75 percent support respectively at 65 percent counted. Final certified totals were not yet available, and the effect of the bail change on individual cases has not been determined.
The players
Gov. Bill Lee
Tennessee's governor, who led the group behind the statewide property tax ban and whose administration has been central to the state's criminal justice policy debates.
Cameron Sexton
Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives, who represents Crossville and helped lead the effort behind the property tax ban.
Sen. Charlane Oliver
Democratic state senator from Nashville who opposed Amendments Two and Three.
The details
Amendment 1 reached the ballot through the state legislature after passing during the 2024 and 2025 sessions. Amendments Two and Three received bipartisan legislative support, though Sen. Charlane Oliver (D-Nashville) opposed them; Amendment 3 is a version of Marsy's Law, which has passed in 14 other states, two of which have since repealed it.
Timeline
2024 legislative session: Bail referendum passed the legislature.
2025 legislative session: Bail referendum passed the legislature again.
Tuesday, November 3, 2026: Voters approved the three amendments.
Legal Context
Tennessee's victims' rights amendment follows the Marsy's Law model that has passed in 14 other states, though two of those states have since repealed it. The bail and property tax measures reflect a broader pattern of state constitutional changes on criminal justice and taxation placed directly before voters.
Tennesseans will see changes in how bail decisions are made for particularly violent offenses under Amendment 1. The property tax ban in Amendment 2 would limit statewide property taxes, shaping how homes, farms and businesses are taxed going forward.
The takeaway
Voters in Tennessee have changed the state constitution on bail, property taxes and victims' rights, and the practical effects will depend on how these amendments are implemented. Residents interested in the details can follow how the legislature and courts apply the new rules.
Further reading
Explore more on Criminal Justice in Tennessee for context on bail and victims' rights policy.
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