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SB1920 • 2026

Criminal Offenses

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

Crime
Active

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

Sponsor
Seal, Atchley
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 summary and text do not provide specific details on the financial impact or costs of enforcing this law, leaving these points uncertain.

Law to Define Telecommunication Fraud

This law defines using a telecommunication device with intent to deprive someone of their property as a crime and ensures that such crimes are punished at least as a Class E felony.

What This Bill Does

  • Defines the use of a telecommunication device to fraudulently obtain or exercise control over another person's property without consent as telecommunication fraud.
  • Ensures that telecommunication fraud is punishable under Tennessee's theft laws, but not less than a Class E felony.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who commit telecommunication fraud
  • Law enforcement agencies responsible for enforcing the new law

Terms To Know

Telecommunication device
A tool like a phone or computer used to send and receive information over long distances.
Class E felony
The fifth most serious type of crime in Tennessee, with penalties including prison time.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify the exact costs associated with enforcing the new law.
  • It is unclear if this bill will pass and become a law.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  2. 2026-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  3. 2026-03-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  4. 2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

  5. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/16/2026

  6. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed behind the budget

  7. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 3/11/2026

  8. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  9. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  10. 2026-03-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  11. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/4/2026

  12. 2026-02-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Judiciary Committee to Next Available Calendar

  13. 2026-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 2/18/2026

  14. 2026-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  15. 2026-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  16. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 2/11/2026

  17. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee

  18. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  19. 2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  20. 2026-01-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee

  21. 2026-01-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Judiciary Committee

  22. 2026-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  23. 2026-01-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
HOUSE BILL 1542
By Atchley

SENATE BILL 1920
By Seal
SB1920
009351
- 1 -

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

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39, Chapter 14, Part 1, is amended by
adding the following new section:
(a) A person commits telecommunication fraud when the person, with intent to
deprive the owner of property, uses a telecommunication device to fraudulently obtain or
exercise control over the property of another without the owner's effective consent.
(b) Telecommunication fraud is punishable as theft pursuant to § 39-14-105, but
in no event shall telecommunication fraud be less than a Class E felony.
(c) As used in this section, "telecommunication device" means the same as
defined in § 39-16-201.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.