Criminal Justice

HB 191 makes it a Class B misdemeanor to knowingly point a laser pointer or laser device at someone driving a car, boat, aircraft, or any motor vehicle. This law directly affects individuals who intentionally use such devices to distract or endanger drivers. The bill creates a new criminal offense with penalties including fines or jail time for violations occurring on or after July 1, 2025. It applies statewide to all motor vehicles and was signed into law by the governor on March 28, 2025.

SB 243 creates a Class E felony for altering, defacing, or removing a firearm's permanent serial number or distinguishing mark, or for selling, purchasing, or possessing such a modified firearm. It directly affects individuals who tamper with firearm identification or handle firearms with altered markings. The bill imposes a mandatory minimum 180-day prison sentence for violations, with no possibility of early release. This law amends Tennessee Code sections covering criminal offenses related to firearms and takes effect July 1, 2025.

SB 17 requires Tennessee law enforcement agencies to share an individual’s immigration status with federal officials only when that person has been arrested for a criminal offense. It exempts school resource officers regarding students and people not arrested (such as victims or witnesses). The bill imposes a $1,000 civil penalty for noncompliance, enforceable by the attorney general. This bill failed in the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 17, 2025, and has not advanced further.