NEW TN LAW ELIMINATES $350 FEE FOR RECLAIMING SEIZED PROPERTY ITEMS

The law, sponsored by Rep. Justin Lafferty (R-Knoxville), will remove the fee for property owners looking to reclaim their seized property through a civil hearing.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee General Assembly unanimously approved a bill removing the fee property owners must pay to reclaim each piece of property seized by the government.

HB 1229 was signed into law by Gov. Lee on May 2 and goes into effect on July 1. The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Justin Lafferty (R-Knoxville), removes the required $350 fee, as long as property owners go through a civil hearing to do so.

The new policy will apply specifically to civil asset forfeiture cases and will not apply to any cases of criminal forfeiture. Law enforcement could continue seizing any property believed to be connected to a crime, even when no charges are filed against the owner.

“Tennesseans shouldn’t have to pay a fee just to reclaim their own property, especially when they were innocent bystanders, which is often the case in civil forfeiture,” Lafferty said. “I appreciate my colleagues in the General Assembly for passing and funding this legislation to protect the rights of our citizens.”