Tennessee Senate Bill SB2178

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/2/26

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39, Chapter 13, relative to criminal offenses.

Summary

SB2178 amends Tennessee’s prostitution patronizing statute to create enhanced penalties when the person being patronized is a law enforcement officer, an undercover law enforcement officer posing as a minor, a person with an intellectual disability, or a person under 18. Under the bill, patronizing prostitution involving a law enforcement officer remains a Class A misdemeanor, while patronizing an undercover officer posing as a minor or a person with an intellectual disability becomes a Class B felony. Patronizing prostitution involving a minor under 18 becomes a Class A felony. The bill also adds a mandatory minimum punishment for patronizing prostitution within 1.5 miles of a school: at least seven days of incarceration and a fine of at least $1,000, in addition to any other authorized punishment. The measure states that it does not limit prosecution under any other applicable law and is set to take effect July 1, 2026.

Impact

This bill would amend Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-13-514 in Title 39, Chapter 13, by expanding and reclassifying certain patronizing prostitution offenses and adding a school-zone penalty. It increases criminal exposure for defendants in cases involving undercover stings, vulnerable adults with intellectual disabilities, and minors, and it imposes a mandatory minimum sentence and fine for offenses near schools. The practical effect is to strengthen enforcement tools and raise penalties for conduct tied to exploitation, minors, and protected locations.

Sentiment

The available voting history suggests the bill was received favorably in committee, passing the Senate Judiciary Committee 8-0 with one pass, and there is no recorded committee transcript showing opposition or debate. Overall sentiment appears supportive, with the committee recommendation indicating broad agreement on the bill’s approach to tougher penalties for prostitution-related offenses involving vulnerable persons and school zones.

Contention

The main points of potential contention are the bill’s increased criminal penalties and the use of undercover law enforcement stings, especially where the offense is treated more severely if the subject is an officer posing as a minor or a person with an intellectual disability. Another possible concern is the mandatory minimum punishment for conduct within 1.5 miles of a school, which may be viewed as expanding punishment based on location rather than the underlying conduct alone. No specific objections are recorded in the provided materials, but these are the likely areas where disagreement could arise.