Two bills touted by Gov. Bill Lee as the key to his criminal justice reform package passed the Tennessee House on April 27.

House Bill 784 and House Bill 785 – dubbed the Alternatives to Incarceration Act and the Re-entry Success Act – passed the House with overwhelming support. Companion bills in the Senate still continued to work through the committee process.

HB 784, which passed the House, 89-1, aims to keep nonviolent offenders out of prison, especially those suffering from mental and substance abuse issues. HB 785, which passed, 90-1, incorporates a plan to help prisoners re-enter society in hopes of lessening their chances of returning to prison.

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