Criminal Offenses - As enacted, requires a person convicted of second degree murder by knowingly killing another to be sentenced as no lower than a Range II offender. - Amends TCA Section 39-13-210 and Title 40.

HB 1871 amends Tennessee law to require that anyone convicted of second-degree murder (specifically for knowingly killing another) must receive a minimum sentence of Range II, the second-lowest sentencing range for criminal offenses. This directly affects individuals convicted of second-degree murder under the specified circumstances, setting a floor for their sentencing. The bill changes sentencing guidelines by prohibiting judges from imposing a sentence below Range II for these convictions, though sentences could still fall within Range III if deemed appropriate. The law applies to offenses committed on or after July 1, 2026.