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Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

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HB2400 • 2026

Criminal Offenses

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 13; Title 16; Title 33; Title 39 and Title 40, relative to the Equal Access to Public Property Act of 2012.

Crime
Active

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

Sponsor
Sparks, Reeves
Last action
2026-03-11
Official status
Taken off notice for cal in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee of Judiciary Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on how the bill affects other parts of Tennessee’s laws beyond Title 39-14-414(e).

Changing Time for Holding Seized Property

This bill changes the time from ninety days to one hundred twenty days that confiscated items used in illegal camping on public land must be stored safely by law enforcement agencies.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the time from ninety (90) days to one hundred twenty (120) days that confiscated or seized property used for engaging in camping on public property must be held securely before being either claimed or disposed of, unless needed as evidence.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who camp illegally on public land in Tennessee.
  • Law enforcement agencies that seize items used for illegal camping.

Terms To Know

Confiscated
Property taken by the police because it was used in a crime.
Seized
To take something away from someone, usually as part of an investigation or legal action.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if the property is needed for evidence beyond one hundred twenty (120) days.
  • It's unclear how this change will affect people who need their seized items back quickly.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Taken off notice for cal in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee of Judiciary Committee

  2. 2026-03-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Judiciary Committee

  3. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  4. 2026-03-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee

  5. 2026-03-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Ref. to Judiciary Committee

  6. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, caption bill, held on desk - pending amdt.

  7. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee

  8. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  9. 2026-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  10. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  11. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 2545
By Reeves

HOUSE BILL 2400
By Sparks
HB2400
012234
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 13;
Title 16; Title 33; Title 39 and Title 40, relative to
the Equal Access to Public Property Act of 2012.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-14-414(e), is amended by
deleting "ninety (90)" wherever it appears and substituting "one hundred twenty (120)".
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.