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HB0403 • 2026

Criminal Offenses

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39, Chapter 13 and Title 40, relative to criminal offenses.

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Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Crawford, Bowling
Last action
2025-04-09
Official status
Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2025
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details about changes in fines or jail time beyond mentioning that it is a Class D felony punishable by imprisonment and potential fine. The exact amounts are implied but not explicitly stated.

Changing Punishment for Unlawful Photography

This bill changes the punishment for taking photos without permission in a way that could be embarrassing or sexually arousing from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class D felony.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes unlawful photography, which is now a Class A misdemeanor, into a Class D felony if it involves photographing someone without their consent and with the intent of causing embarrassment or sexual arousal.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who take photos without permission that could be embarrassing or sexually arousing.
  • Victims of such unauthorized photography.
  • Law enforcement and the courts dealing with these cases.

Terms To Know

Class D felony
A serious crime that can result in a prison sentence of at least two years and up to twelve years, along with possible fines.
Unlawful photography
Taking photos without permission when the person knows it could be embarrassing or sexually arousing for someone else.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how many people will be affected by this change.
  • It is unclear if there are any exceptions to these new rules.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

Amendment 1-0 to HB0403

Plain English: The amendment updates Tennessee law to make it illegal to secretly photograph someone in private areas without their consent if the photos are taken for sexual reasons or to embarrass them.

  • Adds new rules making it a crime to take secret photos of people's private parts or in situations that would be embarrassing, especially if done with sexual intent or to harass someone.
  • Defines when someone has a reasonable expectation of privacy and clarifies what kind of photography is considered offensive.
  • Changes penalties for breaking these new rules, including making repeat offenses more serious.
  • The amendment text does not specify all the details about how these laws will be enforced or interpreted by courts.
Amendment 1-0 to SB0482

Plain English: The amendment updates Tennessee law to make it illegal to secretly photograph individuals in private situations without their consent, especially if the photos are taken for sexual purposes or to harass someone.

  • Adds new rules making it a crime to take secret photos of people when they expect privacy, like in bathrooms or bedrooms, unless the person gives permission first.
  • Defines specific penalties for different types of illegal photography, such as fines and jail time depending on the severity of the offense.
  • The amendment text is detailed but complex. Some parts may be hard to understand without legal expertise.

Bill History

  1. 2025-04-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/21/2025

  2. 2025-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/15/2025

  3. 2025-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rule #83(8) Suspended, to be heard in Senate Finance, Ways & Means Committee on 4/15/2025

  4. 2025-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2025

  5. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed behind the budget

  6. 2025-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee Ayes 9, Nays 0 PNV 0

  7. 2025-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/18/2025

  8. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 3/19/2025

  9. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/18/2025

  10. 2025-03-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee

  11. 2025-03-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  12. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  13. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

  14. 2025-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/5/2025

  15. 2025-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  16. 2025-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Judiciary Committee

  17. 2025-02-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 2/26/2025

  18. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee

  19. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  20. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee

  21. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Judiciary Committee

  22. 2025-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  23. 2025-01-29 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  24. 2025-01-28 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Present law provides that it is an offense
for a person to knowingly photograph, or cause to be photographed, an individual without the prior effective consent of the individual, or in the case of a minor, without the prior effective consent of
the minor's parent or legal guardian, if the photograph
(i) would offend
or embarrass an ordinary person if the person appeared in the photograph
or is
focused on the intimate area of the individual and would be considered offensive or embarrassing by the
individual
and (ii) was
taken for the purpose of sexual arousal or gratification of the defendant
.

Under present law, this offense is a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by a sentence of imprisonment not greater than 11 months, 29 days or a fine not to e
xceed $2,500, or both. This bill raises this offense to a Class D felony, punishable by a sentence of imprisonment not less than two years nor more than 12 years and a potential fine not to exceed $5,000.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 482
By Bowling

HOUSE BILL 403
By Crawford

HB0403
001145
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39,
Chapter 13 and Title 40, relative to criminal
offenses.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-13-605(d)(1)(A), is amended by
deleting "Class A misdemeanor" and substituting "Class D felony".
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-13-605, is amended by deleting
subdivisions (d)(2) and (d)(3).
SECTION 3. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it, and
applies to offenses committed on or after that date.