SB1296 • 2026

Criminal Offenses

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39, Chapter 13, Part 8 and Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 3, relative to criminal offenses.

Crime Education Firearms

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Johnson, Lamberth
Last action: 2025-05-27
Official status: Comp. became Pub. Ch. 522
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The exact penalties for posting personal information that causes harm are not specified, leaving room for interpretation.

Tennessee Law on Threats of Mass Violence and Posting Personal Information

This law makes threatening to cause mass violence a felony and posting personal information online with intent to harm a misdemeanor or felony.

What This Bill Does

Makes it illegal for someone to threaten to hurt four or more people in ways that could seriously injure them or kill them, if the threat is made through any form of communication like social media or phone calls.
Increases the punishment from a Class E felony to a Class D felony if the threat involves specific places like schools, religious buildings, government property, or public events.
Adds more severe penalties for repeat offenders who have previously been convicted under this law or similar laws about threats on school property.
Allows courts to order people found guilty of these crimes to pay money to cover costs and damages caused by the threat.
Makes it illegal to post someone's home address or phone number online with the intent to cause them harm, which is a misdemeanor unless actual harm occurs.

Who It Names or Affects

People who make threats of mass violence through communication methods like social media or phone calls.
Individuals whose personal information is posted online with harmful intentions.
Courts that can order restitution for damages caused by such threats.

Terms To Know

Mass Violence: An act that a reasonable person would think could seriously hurt or kill four or more people.
School: Any public or private educational institution from preschool to university level.

Limits and Unknowns

The law does not specify the exact penalties for posting personal information that causes harm.
It is unclear how much money will be needed for restitution and damages caused by threats of mass violence.
The effective date of July 1, 2025, means there could be a delay before these laws are enforced.

Amendments

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

HA0192

Amendment 1-0 to HB1314

Plain English: The amendment adds new sections to Tennessee law that make threatening mass violence a felony and posting someone's personal information online with intent to cause harm a misdemeanor.

Adds a new section making it illegal to threaten an act of mass violence through any form of communication, punishable as a Class E felony unless certain aggravating factors are present, in which case it becomes a Class D felony.
Includes provisions for enhanced penalties if the threat involves specific locations like schools or government buildings, prior convictions, or substantial steps towards executing the threat.
Adds another new section criminalizing the posting of someone's personal information online with intent to cause harm, punishable as a Class B misdemeanor unless it results in actual harm, then it becomes a Class A misdemeanor.

The exact penalties and enforcement details are not fully explained in the amendment text.

SA0351

Amendment 1-0 to SB1296

Adds a new section making it illegal to threaten an act of mass violence through any form of communication, punishable as a Class E felony unless certain aggravating factors are present, in which case it becomes a Class D felony.
Includes provisions for enhanced penalties if the threat involves specific locations like schools or government buildings, prior convictions, or substantial steps towards executing the threat.
Adds another new section criminalizing the posting of someone's personal information online with intent to cause harm, punishable as a Class B misdemeanor unless it results in actual harm, then it becomes a Class A misdemeanor.

The exact penalties and sentencing details are not fully explained beyond class levels.
Some terms like 'substantial step' may require legal interpretation for application.

Bill History

2025-05-27 Tennessee General Assembly
Comp. became Pub. Ch. 522
2025-05-27 Tennessee General Assembly
Effective date(s) 07/01/2025
2025-05-27 Tennessee General Assembly
Pub. Ch. 522
2025-05-21 Tennessee General Assembly
Signed by Governor.
2025-05-09 Tennessee General Assembly
Transmitted to Governor for his action.
2025-05-08 Tennessee General Assembly
Signed by Senate Speaker
2025-04-30 Tennessee General Assembly
Signed by H. Speaker
2025-04-28 Tennessee General Assembly
Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.
2025-04-23 Tennessee General Assembly
Sponsor(s) Added.
2025-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly
Companion House Bill substituted
2025-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly
Passed Senate, Ayes 29, Nays 3
2025-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly
Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - SA0351)
2025-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly
Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.
2025-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/22/2025
2025-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly
Sponsor(s) Added.
2025-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly
Senate Reset on calendar for 4/22/2025
2025-04-17 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/21/2025
2025-04-15 Tennessee General Assembly
Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee
2025-04-15 Tennessee General Assembly
Received from House, Passed on First Consideration
2025-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly
Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.
2025-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly
Passed H., as am., Ayes 83, Nays 11, PNV 0
2025-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly
Sponsor(s) Added.
2025-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly
H. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA0192)
2025-04-10 Tennessee General Assembly
H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/14/2025
2025-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/10/2025
2025-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/15/2025
2025-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly
Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee
2025-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. Finance, Ways, and Means Committee for 4/8/2025
2025-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly
Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
2025-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly
Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee Ayes 6, Nays 2 PNV 0
2025-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 4/1/2025
2025-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly
Action deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 4/1/2025
2025-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly
Sponsor(s) Added.
2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/31/2025
2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly
Sponsor(s) Added.
2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/2/2025
2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly
Assigned to s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee
2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly
Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/26/2025
2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly
Action def. in Judiciary Committee to 3/26/2025
2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/19/2025
2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly
Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Judiciary Committee
2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/12/2025
2025-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly
Action Def. in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee to 3/12/25
2025-02-19 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 2/26/2025
2025-02-19 Tennessee General Assembly
Meeting Canceled
2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee
2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 2/19/2025
2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly
Assigned to s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee
2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly
P2C, ref. to Judiciary Committee
2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly
Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly
Intro., P1C.
2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction
2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

This bill provides that, generally, a person commits a Class E felony if the person recklessly, by any
means of communication, threatens to commit an act that a reasonable person would conclude could lead to the serious bodily injury or death of four or more persons ("mass violence") and the threat causes another to reasonably expect the commission of suc
h
an act. However, the classification increases to a Class D felony if any of the following applies:



The violation involves a threat to commit an act of mass violence on the property of a school; on the property of a house of worship; on the property of a federal, state, or local government; or at a live performance or event.



The defendant has one or more prior convictions for a violation of this bill or offenses relative to threats of mass violence on school property or at school-related activities.



The defendant intentionally engages in substantial conduct to prepare for or carry out the threatened act.

As used in this bill, a "school" means a public or private day school, preschool, elementary school, middle school, high school, college of applied te
chnology, postsecondary vocational or technical school, or two-year or four-year college or university.

In addition to any other penalty authorized by law, this bill authorizes a sentencing court to order a person convicted of violating this bill to pay
restitution, including costs and damages resulting from the disruption of the normal activity that would have otherwise occurred but for the threat to commit an act of mass violence.

POSTING INFORMATION ON WEBSITES

This bill provides that a person commi
ts an offense who posts on a publicly accessible website the telephone number or home address of an individual with the intent to cause harm or a threat of harm to the individual or a member of the individual's family or household. However, this provisio
n
does not apply to a public servant who posts such information in the performance of the public servant's duties as required by or in accordance with state or federal law. As used in this provision, "harm" means bodily injury or damage to property.

Gene
rally, this bill classifies such an offense as a Class B misdemeanor. However, the offense increases to a Class A misdemeanor if the offense results in harm to (i) the individual whose telephone number or home address was posted on a publicly accessible
w
ebsite; or (ii) a member of the individual's family or household.

ON APRIL 14, 2025, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 1314, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #1 revises one of the factors under which the offense of recklessly threatening to commit an act of mass violence will be enhanced to a Class D felony.

Instead of enhancing the offense classification if t
he defendant intentionally engages in
substantial conduct to prepare for or carry out the threatened act, including, but not limited to, gathering weapons, ammunition, body armor, vehicles, or materials required to manufacture a weapon of mass destruction
, this amendment enhances the offense t
o a Cl
ass D felony if
t
he defendant knowingly:

(
1
) Takes a substantial step toward the execution of the threatened act, including, but not limited to, acquiring, constructing, or assembling resources, equipment, or materials that could be used to carry
out the threatened act; and

(
2
) Engages in preparatory actions such as developing plans, creating schematics, conducting surveillance, or researching methods for execution of the threatened act.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HOUSE BILL 1314
By Lamberth

SENATE BILL 1296
By Johnson

SB1296
001029
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39,
Chapter 13, Part 8 and Title 39, Chapter 17, Part
3, relative to criminal offenses.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39, Chapter 13, Part 8, is amended by
adding the following new section:
(a) As used in this section:
(1) "Mass violence" means an act that a reasonable person would
conclude could lead to the serious bodily injury or death of four (4) or more
persons;
(2) "Means of communication" means direct and indirect verbal, written,
or electronic communications, including graffiti, pictures, diagrams, telephone
calls, voice over internet protocol calls, video messages, voicemail, electronic
mail, social media posts, instant messages, chat group posts, text messages,
and any other recognized means of conveying information; and
(3) "School" means any public or private day school, preschool,
elementary school, middle school, high school, college of applied technology,
postsecondary vocational or technical school, or two-year or four-year college or
university.
(b) A person commits an offense who recklessly, by any means of
communication, threatens to commit an act of mass violence and the threat causes
another to reasonably expect the commission of an act of mass violence.
(c)

- 2 - 001029

(1) Except as provided in subdivision (c)(2), a violation of subsection (b)
is a Class E felony.
(2) A violation of subsection (b) is a Class D felony if:
(A) The violation involves a threat to commit an act of mass
violence:
(i) On the property of a school, house of worship, or
federal, state, or local government; or
(ii) At a live performance or event;
(B) The defendant has one (1) or more prior convictions for a
violation of this section or § 39-16-517; or
(C) The defendant intentionally engages in substantial conduct to
prepare for or carry out the threatened act, including, but not limited to,
gathering weapons, ammunition, body armor, vehicles, or materials
required to manufacture a weapon of mass destruction.
(d) In addition to any other penalty authorized by law, a sentencing court may
order a person convicted of violating subsection (b) to pay restitution, including costs
and damages resulting from the disruption of the normal activity that would have
otherwise occurred but for the threat to commit an act of mass violence.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 3, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
(a) A person commits an offense who posts on a publicly accessible website the
telephone number or home address of an individual with the intent to cause harm or a
threat of harm to the individual or a member of the individual's family or household.
(b)

- 3 - 001029

(1) Except as provided in subdivision (b)(2), an offense under this section
is a Class B misdemeanor.
(2) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor if the offense
results in harm to:
(A) The individual whose telephone number or home address was
posted on a publicly accessible website; or
(B) A member of the individual's family or household.
(c) This section does not apply to a public servant who posts information
described in subsection (a) in the performance of the public servant's duties as required
by or in accordance with state or federal law.
(d) As used in this section, "harm" means bodily injury or damage to property.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it.