NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The Tennessee General Assembly passed several new laws related to criminal offenses and public safety during its last session, with many taking effect starting Monday, July 1.
Several of the new laws enhance penalties for existing offenses, while others create entirely new criminal offenses like “abortion trafficking.” Many of the new statutes going into effect next week also bear the names of victims who inspired the legislation.
Below is a full list of some of the new crime laws Tennesseans will now see being enforced in the state.
‘Jillian’s Law’ (HB1640/SB1769)
Named for 18-year-old Jillian Ludwig who was killed after being hit by a stray bullet in November 2023, “Jillian’s Law,” makes various changes to how the criminal justice system interacts with offenders who are deemed incompetent to stand trial.
According to Metro Nashville police, Ludwig was shot in the head while she was walking on the track in the Edgehill Community Memorial Gardens Park. The gunfire came from across the street, where officials said a man admitted to firing shots toward a vehicle.
The alleged shooter was a repeat offender who was prosecuted in April 2023 for a separate assault with a deadly weapon.However, the case against him was dismissed after three court-appointed physicians ruled he was incompetent to stand trial.
“Jillian’s Law” requires that defendants like the man accused of shooting Ludwig be committed to an appropriate treatment facility — something that previously was not mandated. The bill considers anyone has been charged with a felony or Class A misdemeanor and found to be incompetent to stand trial “to pose a substantial likelihood of serious harm.”
It also requires those deemed incompetent to stand trial to be entered into the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, which serves as a namecheck database of people prohibited from buying or owning firearms.
New anti-squatter laws (SB0795/HB1259)
This bill enacts anti-squatter laws in order to “quickly restore possession of a residential property to the lawful owner of the property when the property is being unlawfully occupied.”
Under the bill, a property owner can request that their local sheriff’s office immediately remove any person unlawfully occupying a residence if a certain set of conditions are met.
Property owners cannot have a current or former tenant nor any of their immediate family members, such as a spouse, parent, sibling or child, removed from a residence under the anti-squatter laws.
The sheriff’s office also has to verify that the person does in fact own the property before issuing a notice for the unauthorized person to immediately vacate. The bill authorizes a person to bring a civil cause of action in the case of wrongful removal.
‘Laken Riley Act of 2024’ (HB1909/SB1868)
The “Laken Riley Act of 2024” is named after a 22-year-old nursing student who was reportedly attacked and killed while jogging in a park on the University of Georgia campus on Feb. 22.
The new law states that a public college or other public institution of higher education cannot prohibit an adult lawfully present on the campus from carrying a non-lethal weapon for self-defense.
The following items are all considered “non-lethal weapons” under the bill: pepper spray, a pepper spray gun, pepper gel, mace, a stun gun, an electronic control device, or other conducted energy device.
Officials can still prohibit the carrying of non-lethal weapons in any building where armed security is provided or in any pre-K-12 school.
Death penalty for child rape offenses (SB1834/HB1663)
Under this bill, the state will be able to seek capital punishment when an adult is convicted of aggravated rape of a child. The circ*mstances of the case could determine whether those convicted are sentenced to death or life in prison.
A jury that finds someone guilty of aggravated rape of a child must hold a separate sentencing hearing to determine the defendant’s punishment. If the death penalty is imposed, the Tennessee Supreme Court must then review the conviction and sentence.
Anyone who has an intellectual disability at the time of the offense cannot be sentenced to death. Juveniles convicted of aggravated rape of a child must be punished as Range II offenders, with a sentence of no less than 25 years but no more than 40 years.
Abortion trafficking (SB1971/HB1895)
This new law criminalizes certain adults who take a minor to get an abortion. Under the bill, a person commits the offense of “abortion trafficking” — a Class A misdemeanor — if they recruit, harbor or transport a pregnant unemancipated minor for the purposes of getting an abortion.
The offense is punishable by 11 months and 29 days in prison. Additionally, the bill provides that anyone who commits the offense of abortion trafficking may be held liable in a civil action for the wrongful death of an unborn child, unless the pregnancy resulted from rape or incest.
The bill does not apply to the parents or legal guardian of an unemancipated minor, nor anyone who has obtained the written, notarized consent of the unemancipated minor’s parent or guardian.
There are also exceptions for licensed physicians, ambulance drivers or any person who calls an ambulance for a minor in the event of a serious medical emergency.
‘Back the Blue Act’ (HB1881/SB2062)
This bill increases the punishment for assaulting a law enforcement officer from a Class A misdemeanor with a mandatory minimum 30-day sentence and $5,000 fine to a Class E felony with a mandatory minimum 60-day sentence and $10,000 fine.
Under the bill, a “law enforcement officer” can include capitol police, Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation agents, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency officers, deputy jailers and park rangers.
Increasing penalties for school threats (HB2198/SB2263)
This bill increases the penalty for the offense of threatening to commit an act of mass violence on school property or at a school-related activity from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony.
Anyone convicted of a Class E felony in Tennessee could face up to six years in prison and a fine of up to $3,000.
In March, the house adopted an amendment specifying that the law regarding a threat of mass violence on school property does not apply to people with an intellectual disability.
‘Chris Wright Act’ (HB2323/SB2155)
Under the “Chris Wright Act,” which is named for a Chattanooga businessman who was shot and killed in September 2023, criminals with a long history of misdemeanor offenses will become felons upon the sixth occurrence of certain misdemeanors.
Wright’s alleged killer reportedly had more than 60 criminal charges dating back to the early 1990s. Many of those charges included offenses like theft, assault and domestic assault, which previously would still be a Class A misdemeanor after multiple convictions.
Specific offenses will also become a Class E felony after a third or subsequent conviction. Those offenses include assault against a first responder or nurse; child abuse; child neglect or endangerment; domestic assault; unlawful carrying and possession of a firearm; violation of an order of protection or restraining order; or violation of a no contact order.
Convictions in other jurisdictions could also be considered preceding misdemeanors if the elements of the offense are the same as the elements of a comparable offense in Tennessee.
‘Dr. Benjamin Mauck Act’ (SB1709/HB1628)
The “Dr. Benjamin Mauck Act” creates new criminal offenses for assault and aggravated assault within a healthcare facility.
Tennessee statute already provides an enhanced penalty for assaulting first responders and nurses, but this bill expands the law to protect all employees within healthcare facilities.
The bill was named after one of the top doctors in the Memphis area. Dr. Benjamin Mauck had been on staff at Campbell Clinic since 2012 and specialized in elbow, hand and wrist surgery. On July 11, 2023, Mauck was shot and killed by one of his patients inside an exam room.
Anyone who assaults another person within a Tennessee healthcare facility could face a Class A misdemeanor punishable by a mandatory fine of $5,000 and a mandatory minimum 30-day prison sentence.
An aggravated assault resulting in serious bodily injury to the victim or death will result in a Class C misdemeanor punishable by a mandatory fine of $15,000 and a mandatory minimum 90-day prison sentence.
Protecting bees (SB2650/HB2848)
This new law makes it a Class C felony to take bees, or a structure used to keep, handle or house them, from their owner without consent.
It was already illegal to take an animal or other property from a Tennessee animal facility without the owner’s permission. This bill simply expands those protections to bees.
In Tennessee, a Class C felony is punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
Making drag racing a felony (HB2814/SB2710)
This bill raises the penalty for the offense of drag racing from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony. In Tennessee, people convicted of a Class E felony could face up to six years in jail and a fine of up to $3,000.
