Criminal Justice

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 20, 2026

SB 1736: Sentencing - As introduced, increases the penalty for leaving the scene of an accident resulting in injury from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony; increases the penalty for leaving the scene of an accident that the person knew or should reasonably have known resulted in death from a Class E felony to a Class D felony. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 13 and Title 55, Chapter 10.

SB 1736 (the "James Bardsley Life Protection Act") raises penalties for drivers who flee accident scenes. It upgrades the penalty for leaving an accident causing injury from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony. For accidents where death was known or should have been known, it increases the penalty from a Class E felony to a Class D felony. The bill directly affects drivers who fail to stop after collisions, amending Tennessee law in Titles 39 and 55, and takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for fleeing accident scenes, expanding criminalization and harsher sentencing per bill language, aligning with 'oppose' indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sentencing

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in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 15, 2026

HB 1538: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, increases the penalty for knowingly using an unmanned aircraft over any portion of a property that includes a correctional facility from a Class C misdemeanor to a Class C felony; authorizes a correctional facility employee to disable an unmanned aircraft that is operating over property that includes a correctional facility and states that the correctional facility and the correctional facility employee are not liable for damage to the unmanned aircraft as a result of being disabled. - Amends TCA Title 39.

HB 1538 increases penalties for knowingly flying drones over correctional facilities in Tennessee, raising the offense from a Class C misdemeanor to a Class C felony. The bill directly affects drone operators who fly unmanned aircraft near prisons, with correctional facility employees authorized to disable such drones without liability for damage. Key provisions include the felony penalty for violations and explicit protection for facilities/employees who disable drones operating over correctional property. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for drone flights over prisons from misdemeanor to felony, expanding criminalization without reform elements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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in committee · Tennessee · House May 27, 2026

HB 1951: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, enacts the "Grace Anne Sparks Coercive Suicide Prevention Law of 2026." - Amends TCA Title 39.

HB 1951 creates a new Class D felony offense called "coercive suicide" for AI owners whose systems advise or encourage a user to commit suicide after the user has communicated suicidal intent. It specifically targets AI systems (including chatbots and generative AI) that generate content like text or images, requiring owners to know or reasonably foresee the risk and negligently allow access. The law applies only to AI entities, not human interactions, and takes effect July 1, 2026. This is a policy change focused on holding AI developers accountable for dangerous system outputs, not general suicide prevention.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new felony for AI suicide encouragement, expanding criminalization without addressing reform areas like sentencing or oversight.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRegulates AI owners to prevent harmful content, aligning with consumer protection in tech policy through new criminal liability for negligent AI systems.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 20, 2026

SB 1631: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, increases the penalty for knowingly using an unmanned aircraft over any portion of a property that includes a correctional facility from a Class C misdemeanor to a Class C felony; authorizes a correctional facility employee to disable an unmanned aircraft that is operating over property that includes a correctional facility and states that the correctional facility and the correctional facility employee are not liable for damage to the unmanned aircraft as a result of being disabled. - Amends TCA Title 39.

SB 1631 increases penalties for knowingly operating drones over correctional facilities in Tennessee, raising the offense from a misdemeanor to a Class C felony. It directly affects drone operators near prisons and authorizes correctional facility employees to disable such drones without liability for damage. Key provisions include amending criminal penalties to classify drone use over correctional properties as a felony and explicitly protecting facilities and staff from legal claims when disabling drones. The bill focuses on enhancing security at correctional facilities by strengthening consequences for unauthorized drone activity.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases drone penalties to felony, expanding criminalization of minor offenses near correctional facilities without reform focus.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 25, 2026

SB 1830: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, enacts "The Intercollegiate Student-Athlete Protection Act," which creates a criminal offense of student athlete harassment; punishes the first offense as a Class A misdemeanor and a second or subsequent offense as a Class E felony; and specifies that a student athlete who is the victim of student athlete harassment has a private right of action against a person convicted of the offense. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 49; Title 39 and Title 49.

SB 1830, the Intercollegiate Student-Athlete Protection Act, creates a new criminal offense for harassment targeting student athletes in Tennessee. It specifically prohibits threats related to athletic performance or repeated sports-related bullying (including cyberbullying) that causes emotional distress. A first offense is punishable as a Class A misdemeanor, while second or subsequent offenses are Class E felonies. The bill also grants victims a private right to sue convicted perpetrators, allowing recovery of at least $75,000 per violation plus actual damages, attorney fees, and other remedies. The law applies to all student athletes at Tennessee colleges participating in intercollegiate sports and takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new criminal offense for student athlete harassment, expanding criminalization per bill's explicit language.95% confidence

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in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 1812: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, adds the advisement or encouragement to commit suicide to the offense of assisted suicide under certain circumstances. - Amends TCA Title 39.

HB 1812 expands Tennessee's assisted suicide law to include intentionally advising or encouraging someone to commit suicide within an imminent timeframe, provided the person knows the other has communicated suicidal intent. This directly affects individuals who provide verbal encouragement or advice to someone actively considering suicide. The bill adds a new provision defining this specific conduct as a criminal offense, while maintaining that general assisted suicide remains a Class D felony (Class C if the victim is a minor). The law would take effect July 1, 2026, applying to acts committed after that date.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by adding verbal encouragement of imminent suicide as offense, increasing scope of criminal law without reform elements.90% confidence

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signed · Tennessee · House May 18, 2026

HB 1787: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, increases the penalty for patronizing prostitution from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class B or Class A felony under certain circumstances that are currently punished as trafficking for a commercial sex act. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 13.

HB 1787 (Criminal Offenses) increases penalties for patronizing prostitution when the victim is in specific vulnerable categories. It raises the offense to a Class B felony if the victim is a law enforcement officer posing as a minor or a person with an intellectual disability, and to a Class A felony if the victim is under 18. The bill also mandates at least 7 days in jail and a $1,000 fine for patronizing prostitution within 1.5 miles of a school. These changes apply to cases currently treated as trafficking for commercial sex acts under Tennessee law. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases penalties for patronizing prostitution to felony levels in specific cases, expanding criminalization and mandating jail time/fines, aligning with 'increases mandatory sentences' indicator.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Human Trafficking Law Enforcement

signed · Tennessee · Senate May 27, 2026

SB 1602: Sentencing - As enacted, enacts the "James Bardsley, Jr. Life Protection Act." - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 13 and Title 55, Chapter 10.

SB 1602 increases penalties for drivers who leave the scene of an accident. If an accident causes injury, the penalty rises from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony. If the driver knew or should have known death resulted, the penalty increases from a Class E felony to a Class D felony. This bill directly affects drivers involved in accidents where they fail to stop, amending Tennessee law to impose stricter criminal penalties for these actions. The changes will take effect on July 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases felony classifications for hit-and-run offenses, expanding criminalization and raising penalties per 'oppose' indicators of stricter sentencing.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sentencing

died · Tennessee · House Apr 14, 2026

HB 2064: Firearms and Ammunition - As introduced, repeals the criminal offenses of unlawfully carrying a firearm or club with the intent to go armed and carrying or possessing a weapon in or on public parks, playgrounds, civic centers, and other public recreational buildings and grounds; allows persons convicted of stalking or a misdemeanor domestic violence offense to possess a firearm after five years from the date of conviction. - Amends TCA Title 16; Title 36; Title 37; Title 39; Title 40; Title 49 and Title 65.

HB 2064 changes Tennessee's firearm laws by repealing criminal penalties for carrying a firearm in public parks, playgrounds, and recreational areas. It modifies restrictions for people convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence or stalking, allowing firearm possession after five years from conviction (unless rights remain restricted). The bill also removes bans on carrying firearms in public recreational spaces and updates misdemeanor penalties for carrying while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. These changes directly affect individuals with certain past convictions and those who carry firearms in public recreational areas. The bill does not alter federal gun laws or create new restrictions.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill repeals criminal penalties for firearm carrying in public parks and relaxes firearm restrictions for domestic violence/stalking offenders after 5 years, weakening existing protections in criminal justice.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Drug Policy Firearms

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passed · Tennessee · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SB 1660: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, increases the penalty for arson committed at a pregnancy resource center from a Class C felony to a Class B felony; defines "pregnancy resource center" as a nonprofit organization that provides care and resources to assist women and families facing difficult or unexpected pregnancies, including providing counseling, financial assistance, food, clothing, and medical assistance to pregnant women and reimbursing social service providers who prepare adoptions throughout the state for services and programs targeting at-risk women and families with immediate and ongoing needs related to unexpected pregnancy. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 14, Part 3.

SB 1660 raises the penalty for arson committed at a pregnancy resource center from a Class C to a Class B felony. It defines "pregnancy resource center" as a nonprofit organization providing counseling, financial aid, food, clothing, medical assistance, and adoption-related services to women and families facing unexpected pregnancies. The bill directly affects individuals who commit arson at these specific facilities by increasing potential criminal penalties. The key change is both the enhanced sentencing and the legally defined scope of the centers protected under this provision.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases arson penalty at pregnancy resource centers from Class C to Class B felony, directly increasing mandatory sentences per 'oppose' indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sentencing

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