AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39 and Title 40, relative to domestic abuse.
Summary
SB1717 amends Tennessee’s domestic abuse-related criminal provisions to expand the offense of violating a no-contact order. Under current law, the offense applies to certain no-contact orders issued after an arrest; this bill adds no-contact orders issued after a conviction, including orders imposed as part of a sentence or as conditions of probation or parole, when the underlying offense involves a domestic abuse victim as defined in state law. The bill also updates a related statutory reference so that the covered person may be someone who was “arrested or convicted,” rather than only arrested.
The measure is aimed at strengthening enforcement of court-ordered protections in domestic abuse cases by making it a criminal offense to violate no-contact orders at more stages of the criminal process. It takes effect July 1, 2026, and would affect defendants subject to no-contact orders, victims of domestic abuse, and the courts and law enforcement agencies responsible for enforcing those orders.
Impact
The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated § 39-13-113 in Title 39, expanding the scope of conduct punishable as a violation of a no-contact order. It broadens the statute from orders tied only to arrests to include orders entered after conviction, including those attached to sentencing, probation, or parole, in cases involving domestic abuse victims under § 36-3-601. This change increases the circumstances under which a defendant can be charged for violating a no-contact order and gives prosecutors and courts additional enforcement tools in domestic violence cases.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests generally favorable support for the bill. The Senate Judiciary Committee recommended passage by a 7-2 vote, indicating majority approval with some dissent. No committee transcript is available, so there is no recorded floor or committee debate to show broader public or legislative commentary, but the vote pattern suggests the bill was viewed positively overall as a domestic abuse protection measure.
Contention
The main point of contention appears to be the expansion of criminal liability for violating no-contact orders, especially extending the offense to orders issued after conviction and during probation or parole. Supporters likely view this as a needed protection for domestic abuse victims and a stronger enforcement mechanism, while the dissenting votes suggest some concern about broadening penalties or the reach of the statute. Because no transcript is available, the specific objections are not documented, but the split vote indicates at least some disagreement over the scope of the change.