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HB2260 • 2026

Criminal Offenses

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39, Chapter 14, Part 3, relative to arson.

Crime Healthcare
Active

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

Sponsor
Martin G, Gardenhire
Last action
2026-04-08
Official status
Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2026
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Increasing Penalties for Arson at Pregnancy Resource Centers

This bill changes Tennessee law to make arson at pregnancy resource centers a more serious crime than before.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the penalty for setting fire to a pregnancy resource center from a Class C felony to a Class B felony, which is a more severe punishment.
  • Defines what a 'pregnancy resource center' means in Tennessee law as a nonprofit organization that helps women and families with unexpected pregnancies by providing counseling, financial help, food, clothing, medical care, and adoption services.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who commit arson at pregnancy resource centers will face stricter penalties under Tennessee law.
  • Pregnancy resource centers in Tennessee that fit the bill’s definition will be protected by these new laws.

Terms To Know

Class B felony
A serious crime with a higher punishment than a Class C felony.
Pregnancy resource center
A nonprofit organization that helps women and families facing unexpected pregnancies by providing various forms of support.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how much more it will cost to enforce these new laws.
  • It is unclear if this change will prevent arson at pregnancy resource centers or make them safer.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2026

  2. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed behind the budget

  3. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/1/2026

  4. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  5. 2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  6. 2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  7. 2026-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.

  8. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/23/2026

  9. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Judiciary Committee to 3/25/2026

  10. 2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  11. 2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

  12. 2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate, Ayes 32, Nays 0

  13. 2026-03-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Consent Calendar 2 for 3/16/2026

  14. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/18/2026

  15. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  16. 2026-03-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee

  17. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/11/2026

  18. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee to 3/11/2026

  19. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/9/2026

  20. 2026-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  21. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/4/2026

  22. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee

  23. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Judiciary Committee

  24. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  25. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  26. 2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee

  27. 2026-01-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  28. 2026-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
SENATE BILL 1660
By Gardenhire

HOUSE BILL 2260
By Martin G
HB2260
010625
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39,
Chapter 14, Part 3, relative to arson.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-14-301, is amended by deleting
subdivision (b)(2) and substituting:
(2) Arson of a place of worship or pregnancy resource center is a Class B felony.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-14-301(c), is amended by adding
the following new subdivision:
( ) "Pregnancy resource center" means a nonprofit organization that provides
care and resources to assist women and families facing difficult or unexpected
pregnancies, including providing counseling, financial assistance, food, clothing, and
medical assistance to pregnant women and reimbursing social service providers who
prepare adoptions throughout the state for services and programs targeting at-risk
women and families with immediate and ongoing needs related to unexpected
pregnancy.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.