Criminal Offenses - As introduced, makes assault against school employees a Class E felony offense under certain circumstances. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 49, Chapter 6.
HB 721 makes assault against school employees a Class E felony when it occurs during their official duties at specific locations: school grounds, school-sponsored activities, school-provided transportation, or official school bus stops. It directly affects K-12 school employees (teachers, staff, and administrators) in both public and private schools across Tennessee. The bill defines "educational employee" broadly to cover all staff working in grades K-12, raising the legal penalty for harming them while they perform job-related tasks. This policy change, effective July 1, 2025, elevates assault offenses from lower-level charges to felony status under these defined circumstances.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Feb 5, 2025
Last action Apr 1, 2025
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
14
Key actions
10
Committee
12
Apr 1, 2025
Lower · Passed
Def. to Summer Study in Criminal Justice Subcommittee
lower
Mar 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Action Def. in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee to 4/2/2025
lower
Mar 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 4/2/2025
lower
Mar 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Action Def. in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee to 3/26/2025
lower
Mar 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/26/2025
lower
Mar 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
Action Def. in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee to 3/19/2025
lower
Mar 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/19/2025
lower
Mar 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
Action Def. in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee to 3/12/2025
lower
Mar 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/12/2025
lower
Feb 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/5/2025
lower
Feb 10, 2025
Committee
Assigned to s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee
lower
Feb 6, 2025
Committee
P2C, ref. to Judiciary Committee
lower
Feb 5, 2025
Introduced
Intro., P1C.
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Vincent Dixie
DDemocratic
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