SB 944 - HB 1089
FISCAL NOTE
Fiscal Review Committee
Tennessee General Assembly
February 12, 2025
Fiscal Analyst: Arielle Woodmore | Email: arielle.woodmore@capitol.tn.gov | Phone: 615-741-2564
SB 944 - HB 1089
SUMMARY OF BILL: Requires a minimum punishment of at least 40 hours of community
service work for the Class A misdemeanor offense of cruelty to animals.
FISCAL IMPACT:
NOT SIGNIFICANT
Assumptions:
• Pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-14-202(g)(1), cruelty to animals is a Class A
misdemeanor offense. A second or subsequent conviction for cruelty to animals is a Class E
felony.
• Tennessee Code Annotated § 40-35-111(e)(1), establishes the authorized punishment of a
Class A misdemeanor as imprisonment for not greater than 11 months, 29 days, or a fine
not to exceed $2,500, or both.
• The proposed legislation does not alter the authorized terms of imprisonment or fines; it
simply adds an additional mandatory minimum 40 hours of community service work for the
relevant offense.
• There is not expected to be a change in the number of convictions, or the time spent in
local jails by such offenders. Therefore, any fiscal impact to local government is estimated
to be not significant.
CERTIFICATION:
The information contained herein is true and correct to the best of my knowledge.
Bojan Savic, Executive Director