State Rep. Clay Doggett, R-Pulaski, and State Sen. Paul Rose, R-Covington, passed landmark legislation on April 23 that will significantly increase protections for domestic violence victims in Tennessee.
The Debbie and Marie Domestic Violence Protection Act now heads to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk for his signature following bipartisan passage in both chambers.
“Tennessee has struggled in recent years with a high number of domestic violence cases,” Doggett said. “As a former law enforcement officer, I have seen firsthand the devastating effects these crimes can have in our communities. Strengthening public safety and support for victims across our state remains a top priority. The Debbie and Marie Domestic Violence Protection Act will undoubtedly save lives, and I appreciate my colleagues in the General Assembly for their support.”
House Bill 2692/Senate Bill 1972 requires aggravated assault suspects in certain domestic violence cases to wear a GPS monitoring system if they are released on bond. A GPS service provider must notify a victim’s cell phone if their alleged attacker is within a certain proximity of their location. The company must also notify local law enforcement if a defendant violates the terms of their bond conditions.
The legislation is named in honor of Debbie Sisco and her daughter Marie Varsos. Both women were killed in 2021 by Varsos’ estranged husband who was out on bond after being arrested for strangling his wife and threatening to shoot her a month earlier.
“This legislation will save lives of domestic violence victims in the worst of the worst cases,” Rose said. “The loss of Debbie and Marie was a tragedy, and with the passage of this legislation, we hope to prevent such tragedies from happening in the future.”
Statewide, there were 61,713 domestic violence cases reported in 2022, according to the most recent data from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Of those victims, 71 percent were female.
The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence estimates that nearly 40 percent of women in Tennessee will experience some form of domestic violence in their lifetime.
“The passage of the Debbie and Marie Domestic Violence Protection Act is a major milestone for Tennessee,” said Alex Youn, a domestic violence prevention advocate and the surviving relative of Sisco and Varsos. “We believe adding GPS monitoring as a pre-trial mandate for alleged offenders will deter them from violent attacks. As the surviving relative of two domestic violence victims, I know firsthand how the lack of proper safeguards can lead to fatalities, and I hope others never experience what my family has endured. Tennessee has set a precedent that other states can follow to save the lives of vulnerable individuals, most of whom are women, by adopting a similar law.”
“I would like to thank Rep. Doggett, Sen. Rose and Rep. G.A. Hardaway for advocating for this legislation, as well as House Majority Leader William Lamberth for his advice and counsel.”
The Debbie and Marie Domestic Violence Protection Act will take effect July 1.