Criminal Offenses

Plain English Breakdown

The exact penalties for violations are not detailed beyond classification levels.

Creating a New Crime for Cash Theft

This bill creates a new crime in Tennessee where someone can be punished if they travel on the same route as another person with intent to steal cash from businesses or banks while carrying two or more items used for theft.

What This Bill Does

• Creates an offense when someone travels on the same path as another person, intending to steal cash from a commercial business or financial institution, and carries two or more criminal instruments.
• Classifies this new crime as a Class A misdemeanor unless it involves burglary or robbery, which would make it a higher-level felony.

Who It Names or Affects

• People who commit the described acts of traveling with intent to steal cash from businesses or banks while carrying tools meant for theft.
• Law enforcement agencies that will enforce this new law.
• Courts and prisons as they handle cases under this new legislation.

Terms To Know

Class A misdemeanor

A type of crime that is less serious than a felony but more serious than other types of misdemeanors, often punishable by up to one year in jail and fines.

Criminal instrument

An item or tool not illegal on its own but used for committing theft or burglary.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify the exact penalties beyond classifying the offense as a misdemeanor or felony.
• It is unclear how this law will be enforced and what specific items would qualify as 'criminal instruments'.

Official Summary Text

This bill creates an
offense for a person to knowingly travel, with intent to commit theft of another person's cash, from a commercial business
,
or
a
financial institution
, on the same path or route as another person without substantial deviation from that path or route while in possession of two or more criminal instruments.

The offense created in this bill is generally classified as a
Class A misdemeanor
, except in the following situations:



The offense is
a Class D felony if, during the commission of the offense, the person commits a
burglary offense
.


The offense is
a Class B felony if, during the commission of the offense, the person commits a
robbery offense
.

As used in this
bill
, "criminal instrument" means an item or thing, the possession of which is not otherwise an offense, that is possessed, used, made, designed, or adapted for use in the commission of
a burglary
offense or
theft of property
.

Current Bill Text

HOUSE BILL 1668
By Rudd

SENATE BILL 1737
By White
SB1737
008929
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39,
relative to criminal offenses.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 1, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
(a) It is an offense for a person to knowingly travel, with intent to commit theft of
another person's cash, from a commercial business or a financial institution, as defined
in § 45-11-102, on the same path or route as another person without substantial
deviation from that path or route while in possession of two (2) or more criminal
instruments.
(b)
(1) Except as provided in subdivisions (b)(2) and (b)(3), a violation of
subsection (a) is a Class A misdemeanor.
(2) A violation of subsection (a) is a Class D felony if, during the
commission of the offense, the person commits a violation of title 39, chapter 13,
part 10.
(3) A violation of subsection (a) is a Class B felony if, during the
commission of the offense, the person commits a violation of title 39, chapter 13,
part 4.
(c) As used in this section, "criminal instrument" means an item or thing, the
possession of which is not otherwise an offense, that is possessed, used, made,
designed, or adapted for use in the commission of an offense under title 39, chapter 13,
part 10 or § 39-14-103.

- 2 - 008929

SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.