Official Summary Text
Present law provides that it is an offense when a person patronizes prostitution where the subject of the offense is a law enforcement officer or an adult law enforcement officer posing as a minor. This bill removes this provision and provides, instead,
that it is an offense when a person patronizes prostitution where the subject of the offense is any of the following:
A law enforcement officer.
A law enforcement officer 18 or older posing as a minor.
A person who has an intellectual disability.
A person who is less than 18.
PENALTY
Present law provides that, generally, patronizing prostitution is a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to 11 months, 29 days in prison, a fine up to $2,500, or both. However, patronizing prostitution from a person who is younger than 18, has an intel
lectual disability, or is a law enforcement officer posing as a minor is punishable as trafficking for commercial sex, which is generally a Class B felony, punishable by eight to 30 years in prison and a fine up to $25,000. However, a violation of traffi
ck
ing for commercial sex is a Class A felony if the victim of the offense is a child 12 to 18. This bill removes these provisions.
This bill provides, instead, the following penalties:
Patronizing prostitution where the subject of the offense is a law enforcement officer is a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to 11 months, 29 days in prison, a fine up to $2,500, or both.
Patronizing prostitution where the subject of the offense is either a law enforcement officer posing as a minor or a person who has an intellectual disability is a Class B felony, punishable by eight to 30 years in prison and a fine up to $25,000.
Patronizing prostitution where the subject of the offense is less than 18 is a Class A felony, punishable by 15 to 60 years in prison and a fine up to $50,000.
ON APRIL 14, 2026, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 1787, AS AMENDED.
AMENDMENT #1
updates a cross-reference citation without making a substantive change to present law.
Current Bill Text
Read the full stored bill text
SENATE BILL 2178
By Yager
HOUSE BILL 1787
By Littleton
HB1787
010718
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AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39,
Chapter 13, relative to criminal offenses.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-13-514, is amended by deleting
subdivision (a)(2) and substituting:
(2) When a person patronizes prostitution where the subject of the offense is:
(A) A law enforcement officer;
(B) A law enforcement officer eighteen (18) years of age or older posing
as a minor;
(C) A person who has an intellectual disability; or
(D) A person who is less than eighteen (18) years of age.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-13-514, is amended by deleting
subsection (b) and substituting:
(b)
(1) Patronizing prostitution under subsection (a)(1) or subdivision
(a)(2)(A) is a Class A misdemeanor.
(2) Patronizing prostitution under subdivision (a)(2)(B) or (a)(2)(C) is a
Class B felony.
(3) Patronizing prostitution under subdivision (a)(2)(D) is a Class A
felony.
(4) Patronizing prostitution within one and one-half (1.5) miles of a school
shall, in addition to any other authorized punishment, be punished by no less
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than seven (7) days of incarceration and by a fine of not less than one thousand
dollars ($1,000).
(5) This section does not prohibit prosecution under any other applicable
law.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.