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SB0671 • 2026

Criminal Offenses

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39 and Title 40, relative to burglary.

Crime
Active

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

Sponsor
Taylor, Capley
Last action
2026-04-14
Official status
Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/21/2026
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details about the exact sentence or fines associated with Class D felonies beyond stating it is a serious crime punishable by imprisonment and possible fines. The bill summary also lacks information on specific sections removed from the criminal code.

Changing Punishment for Certain Types of Burglary

This bill changes the classification of burglary involving vehicles from a Class E felony to a Class D felony.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the classification of burglary in vehicles from a Class E felony to a Class D felony.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who commit burglary involving vehicles will face stricter punishments under this law.

Terms To Know

Class D felony
A serious crime that can result in a prison sentence of at least two years but no more than twelve years, along with possible fines.
Burglary
The act of entering a building or vehicle without permission and with the intent to commit a crime inside.

Limits and Unknowns

  • It is not clear how many people will be affected by this change in law.
  • The bill does not specify if there are any exceptions for first-time offenders or specific circumstances that might reduce penalties.

Amendments

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

Amendment 1-0 to HB0555

Plain English: The amendment changes burglary from a variable felony class to a fixed Class D felony in Tennessee.

  • Changes burglary to be a Class D felony instead of allowing it to be classified as different levels based on circumstances.
  • Removes specific subdivisions related to sentencing guidelines for burglary.
  • The exact impact on current and future cases is unclear without knowing the previous classifications of burglary under Tennessee law.
Amendment 1-0 to SB0671

Plain English: The amendment changes burglary from a Class E felony to a Class D felony in Tennessee's criminal code.

  • Changes burglary from a Class E felony to a Class D felony under Section 39-13-1002 of the Tennessee Code Annotated.
  • Removes specific language related to burglary penalties from Section 40-32-101(g)(1)(A)(xxi) and (g)(1)(D)(xviii).
  • Updates the remaining references in Section 40-32-101(g)(1)(D)(xviii) to reflect the new classification of burglary.
  • The exact penalties for a Class D felony are not specified and would need to be referenced elsewhere in Tennessee's criminal code.
  • The amendment does not provide details on how this change will affect existing cases or individuals currently facing charges under the old law.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/21/2026

  2. 2026-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/16/2026

  3. 2026-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/14/2026

  4. 2026-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee

  5. 2026-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Finance, Ways, and Means Committee for 4/14/2026

  6. 2026-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

  7. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  8. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee to Next Calendar

  9. 2026-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  10. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/8/2026

  11. 2025-04-17 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  12. 2025-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  13. 2025-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  14. 2025-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  15. 2025-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed behind the budget

  16. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/2/2025

  17. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee to 4/2/2025

  18. 2025-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  19. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 3/26/2025

  20. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  21. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  22. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/19/2025

  23. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Judiciary Committee to 3/19/2025

  24. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/12/2025

  25. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  26. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  27. 2025-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee Ayes 8, Nays 0 PNV 1

  28. 2025-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/4/2025

  29. 2025-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/5/2025

  30. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee

  31. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  32. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee

  33. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Judiciary Committee

  34. 2025-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  35. 2025-01-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  36. 2025-01-29 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Present law provides that (i)
a Class D felony
is generally punishable by a sentence of imprisonment of
not less than two years nor more than 12 years and a
potential
fine not to exceed $5,000
, and (iii)
a Class E felony
is generally punishable by a sentence of imprisonment of
not less than one year n
or more than six years and a
potential
fine not to exceed $3,000
.

Present law provides that a
person commits a Class
E
felony burglary who,
enters
any freight or passenger car, automobile, truck, trailer, boat, airplane, or other motor vehicle with inten
t to commit a felony, theft, or assault or commits or attempts to commit a felony, theft, or assault.
This bill reclassifies this burglary offense as a Class D felony.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 555
By Capley

SENATE BILL 671
By Taylor

SB0671
001288
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39
and Title 40, relative to burglary.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-13-1002, is amended by deleting
subsections (c) and (d) and substituting:
(c) Burglary is a Class D felony.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 40-32-101, is amended by deleting
subdivision (g)(1)(A)(xxi).
SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 40-32-101, is amended by deleting
subdivision (g)(1)(D)(xviii) and substituting:
(xviii) Section 39-13-1002 — Burglary — other than habitation;
SECTION 4. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it, and
applies to offenses committed on or after that date.