Criminal Offenses - As introduced, prohibits the use of a telecommunication device, with intent to deprive the owner of property, to fraudulently obtain or exercise control over the property of another without the owner's effective consent, which is punishable as theft, but in no event less than a Class E felony. - Amends TCA Title 39.

HB 1542 would make it a crime to use a phone, computer, or other telecommunication device to fraudulently take someone else's property without their consent, with the intent to deprive them of it. This law directly affects individuals attempting to commit fraud through digital means, such as scams involving online transactions or phone calls. The bill specifies that telecommunication fraud would be punished as theft under existing Tennessee law, but with a minimum penalty of a Class E felony (the least severe felony classification). It amends Tennessee's theft statutes to explicitly cover this type of fraud, effective July 1, 2026, if passed. The bill does not create new penalties but ensures these digital frauds are treated as serious theft offenses.