Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

Tennessee House Bill HB1273 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.
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22 SENATE BILL 591
33 By Haile
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55 HOUSE BILL 1273
66 By Cochran
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99 HB1273
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1212
1313 AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39,
1414 relative to threats of violence.
1515
1616 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
1717 SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 3, is amended by
1818 adding the following new section:
1919 (a) As used in this section:
2020 (1) "Child care agency" means the same as defined in § 71-3-501;
2121 (2) "Mass violence" means the same as defined in § 39-16-517(a);
2222 (3) "Means of communication" means the same as defined in § 39-16-
2323 517(a); and
2424 (4) "Property" means any building, motor vehicle, grounds, recreational
2525 area, athletic field, or other property owned, used, or operated by the child care
2626 agency, preschool, or religious institution.
2727 (b)
2828 (1) A person who recklessly, by any means of communication, threatens
2929 to commit an act of mass violence on the property of a child care agency,
3030 preschool, or religious institution commits a Class E felony.
3131 (2) This section does not apply to a person with an intellectual disability,
3232 as defined in § 52-1-101.
3333 (c) As a condition of bail or other pretrial release, the court may, in its discretion,
3434 order the defendant to undergo an evaluation, under § 33-7-301, to determine whether
3535 the defendant poses a substantial likelihood of serious harm to the defendant or others.
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3939
4040 (d)
4141 (1) Any person who has knowledge of a threat of mass violence on the
4242 property of a child care agency, preschool, or religious institution shall report the
4343 threat immediately to:
4444 (A) The local law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over the
4545 property; and
4646 (B) The child care agency, preschool, or religious institution that
4747 is subject to the threat of mass violence.
4848 (2) The report must include, to the extent known by the reporter, the
4949 nature of the threat of mass violence, the name and address of the person
5050 making the threat, the facts requiring the report, and any other pertinent
5151 information.
5252 (3) Any person who has knowledge of a threat of mass violence on the
5353 property of a child care agency, preschool, or religious institution and knowingly
5454 fails to report the threat commits a Class B misdemeanor.
5555 (e) In addition to any other penalty authorized by law, a sentencing court may
5656 order a person convicted under subsection (b) to pay restitution, including costs and
5757 damages resulting from the disruption of the normal activity that would have otherwise
5858 occurred on the property of the child care agency, preschool, or religious institution but
5959 for the threat to commit an act of mass violence.
6060 (f) If a juvenile is adjudicated delinquent for a violation of subsection (b) pursuant
6161 to title 37, chapter 1, part 1, then the disposition must include, in addition to any other
6262 disposition authorized by law, the suspension of the juvenile's driving privileges or ability
6363 to obtain a driver license for a period of one (1) year in accordance with the procedure
6464 set out in title 55, chapter 10, part 7.
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6868
6969 SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it.