Tennessee House Bill HB0602

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/30/25
• Refer: 2/5/25
• Refer: 2/26/25
• Refer: 3/5/25
• Chaptered: 4/8/25
• Passed: 4/8/25

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 28; Title 29; Title 36, Chapter 3, Part 6; Title 39 and Title 40, Chapter 2, relative to invasion of privacy.

Impact

The bill introduces significant changes to how the law addresses privacy violations, particularly by including explicit references to unlawful photography within the context of domestic violence and sexual assault protections. By broadening the scope of the definitions to include 'unlawful photography victims', the bill acknowledges the unique trauma and abuse that can stem from voyeuristic acts. These amendments not only change legal definitions but also enhance the support available to victims by allowing them to seek legal recourse and protection similar to other forms of abuse.

Summary

House Bill 602, known as the 'Voyeurism Victims Act', aims to amend various sections of the Tennessee Code Annotated to enhance protections against invasion of privacy, particularly concerning unlawful photography. The bill seeks to redefine aspects of the law to specifically address offenses involving voyeurism. This includes specifying the conditions under which photographs can be deemed unlawful, thus offering clearer guidelines for prosecution and increased consequences for offenders. The intent behind this act is to provide better protections for victims of such privacy invasions and to hold perpetrators accountable more effectively.

Contention

While the bill seems to have widespread support due to its focus on victim protection, potential points of contention could arise regarding the definitions put forth in the bill and how they might complicate enforcement. Critics may argue that the expanded definitions could lead to overreach in prosecution and that the legal language might still leave gaps in adequately protecting all victims. Additionally, lawmakers will need to ensure that adequate resources are in place to support the implementation of these changes without causing undue burden on the judicial system.