Criminal Offenses

Plain English Breakdown

The candidate explanation included claims about smoking paraphernalia that were not fully supported by the provided official source material.

Changes to Criminal Offenses and Smoking Paraphernalia Laws

This bill changes laws related to human trafficking and self-defense, and requires sellers of smoking paraphernalia to display age restriction signs.

What This Bill Does

• Provides that a victim of a human trafficking offense using force against someone committing or attempting to commit such an offense is presumed to have held a reasonable belief of imminent death or serious bodily injury when the force was used.
• Requires a person to prove their status as a victim of human trafficking by clear and convincing evidence, which can be offered through testimony.
• Defines specific acts related to human trafficking for the purpose of self-defense, including trafficking minors and individuals with intellectual disabilities.
• Clarifies that a defendant arrested for obstructing a highway or passageway must not be released within 12 hours of arrest.

Who It Names or Affects

• Victims of human trafficking
• People who sell smoking paraphernalia
• Individuals arrested for obstructing a highway or passageway

Terms To Know

Human Trafficking Offense

An act that involves trafficking people for commercial sex acts, patronizing prostitution from minors or individuals with intellectual disabilities, or promoting the prostitution of minors and intellectually disabled persons.

Clear and Convincing Evidence

A standard of proof in court cases where a person must prove their case by evidence that is more convincing than the opposing side's evidence but not necessarily beyond all reasonable doubt.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify what happens if someone fails to display the required signs for smoking paraphernalia.
• It is unclear how this legislation will be enforced or what penalties might apply for non-compliance with new requirements.

Official Summary Text

ON MARCH 19, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 1225, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #1 rewrites the bill to, instead, make the following changes to present law:



Provide that a
victim of a human trafficking offense using force against a person who is committing or attempting to commit a human trafficking offense is presumed to have held a reasonable belief of imminent death or serious bodily injury to self, family, a member of the household, or a person visiting as an invited guest when that force is used.



Require a
person
to
prove the
ir
status as a victim of human trafficking by clear and
convincing evidence
, and authorize

s
uch evidence
to
be offered through testimony.



For purposes of self-defense,
defines
a "human trafficking offense"
as
the commission of an act that would constitute the criminal offense of (i) trafficking a person for a commercial sex act; (ii) patronizing prostitution from a person who is younger than 18, has an intellectual disability, or is a law enforcement officer posing as a minor; or (iii) promoting prostitution of a
person more than 12 but less than 18
or a person with an intellectual disability.



Clarifies that a defendant arrested for the offense o
f
obstructing a highway or passageway must not be released within 12 hours of the time of arrest.

Current Bill Text

SENATE BILL 1225
By Rose

HOUSE BILL 1354
By Littleton

HB1354
003358
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 37;
Title 39 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 39-15-411(a), is amended by
deleting the subsection and substituting instead:
(a) A person who disseminates smoking paraphernalia shall prominently display
in the place where the items are disseminated the sign required pursuant to § 39-17-
1506(a).
SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it.