Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-25-131: State liability

(a) The costs that have accrued in any criminal prosecution for offenses punishable with death or by confinement in the penitentiary, in cases accruing under § 40-25-130(1), (3) and (5) , shall be paid by the state.

(b) The state shall also pay the accrued costs in all criminal prosecutions for offenses punishable with death or by confinement in the penitentiary where the accused shall have been convicted by trial or by guilty plea. In those cases where the accused receives concurrent sentences, the state shall not be liable to pay the costs in more than three (3) of the prosecutions where concurrent sentences are given.