AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13, relative to public safety.
Summary
SB0456 amends Tennessee’s definition of “crime of violence” in Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13, which governs public safety-related criminal provisions. The bill expands and restates the list of offenses that qualify as crimes of violence, including murder, manslaughter, rape and child rape offenses, sexual battery, robbery and burglary offenses, aggravated assault, kidnapping, carjacking, trafficking for a commercial sex act, especially aggravated sexual exploitation, and felony and aggravated child abuse.
By updating this statutory definition, the bill affects how Tennessee law classifies certain serious offenses for purposes tied to public safety. The change may influence the application of other criminal statutes that rely on the “crime of violence” designation, including sentencing, eligibility, enforcement, or other legal consequences that depend on that classification. The act takes effect July 1, 2025.
Impact
The bill directly amends Tennessee Code Annotated § 39-17-1301(3) by replacing the existing definition of “crime of violence” with a broader and more explicit list of qualifying offenses. This change updates the statutory framework used across Tennessee criminal law where that definition is referenced, potentially affecting prosecution, classification, and collateral consequences for offenses identified as violent crimes. The effective date is July 1, 2025.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have received strong overall support. It passed the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously and later cleared floor votes by wide margins, including final passage with 88 yeas and 1 nay. The voting history suggests broad bipartisan agreement that the definition update was appropriate and aligned with public safety goals.
Contention
There is little evidence of substantive controversy in the available record. The only notable point is that the bill’s final passage was not entirely unanimous, with one dissenting vote on third consideration and a separate procedural vote showing 18 nays on the previous question motion. No committee transcript is available, so the specific reasons for any opposition are not documented here. Any disagreement likely centered on the scope or consequences of expanding the “crime of violence” definition, but the record does not identify a particular member or argument.