Official Summary Text
Present law provides that a person commits aggravated criminal trespass who enters or remains on property when the person knows the person does not have the property owner's effective consent and the person intends, knows, or is reckless about whether su
ch person's presence will cause fear for the safety of another while either of the following are true:
The person, in order to gain entry to the property, destroys, cuts, vandalizes, alters or removes a gate, signage, fencing, lock, chain or other barrier designed to keep trespassers from entering the property.
The person, while on the property, recklessly damages the property or personal property thereon.
This bill removes the above provisions and provides, instead, that a person commits aggravated criminal trespass when the person enters or remains on property when the person knows the person does not have the property owner's effective consent to do so
while any of the following are true:
The person intends, knows, or is reckless about whether such person's presence will cause fear for the safety of another.
The person, in order to gain entry to the property, destroys, cuts, vandalizes, alters, or removes a gate, signage, fencing, lock, chain or other barrier designed to keep trespassers from entering the property.
The person, while on the property, recklessly damages the property or personal property thereon.
The person disrupts a religious assembly within a structure on the property.
PENALTY
Present law provides that an aggravated criminal trespass is generally a Class B misdemeanor,
punishable by up to six months in prison, a fine of up to $500, or both
.
This bill raises the offense classification
for an aggravated criminal trespass that i
nvolves disruption of a religious assembly to a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to 11 months, 29 days in prison, a fine up to $2,500, or both.
ON APRIL 9, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 2335, AS AMENDED.
AMENDMENT #1 raises the offense classification for a
ggravated criminal trespass that involves disruption of a religious assembly
from
a Class A misdemeanor
to a
Class D felony
, which is
punishable by two to 12 years in prison and possibility of a fine up to $5,000.
Current Bill Text
Read the full stored bill text
HOUSE BILL 2065
By Todd
SENATE BILL 2335
By Gardenhire
SB2335
012006
- 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, Section 39-14-406(a), is amended by
deleting the subsection and substituting:
(a) A person commits aggravated criminal trespass who enters or remains on
property when:
(1) The person knows the person does not have the property owner's
effective consent to do so; and
(2)
(A) The person intends, knows, or is reckless about whether such
person's presence will cause fear for the safety of another;
(B) The person, in order to gain entry to the property, destroys,
cuts, vandalizes, alters, or removes a gate, signage, fencing, lock, chain
or other barrier designed to keep trespassers from entering the property;
(C) The person, while on the property, recklessly damages the
property or personal property thereon; or
(D) The person disrupts a religious assembly within a structure on
the property.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-14-406(c), is amended by adding
the following as a new subdivision:
(4) Aggravated criminal trespass that involves disruption of a religious assembly
is a Class A misdemeanor.
- 2 - 012006
SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-14-406(c)(1), is amended by
deleting the language "subdivisions (c)(2) and (3)" and substituting "subdivisions (c)(2)-(4)".
SECTION 4. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.