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SB2664 • 2026

Criminal Offenses

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

Firearms
Active

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

Sponsor
Akbari, Hardaway
Last action
2026-03-25
Official status
Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Judiciary Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on how the new law will be enforced or its impact on sentencing guidelines.

Changing Laws About Assault with Weapons

This bill updates Tennessee's laws by adding brandishing a deadly weapon as an aggravated assault offense and defining 'brandish'.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the law to say that if someone is charged with aggravated assault, it can include brandishing a deadly weapon.
  • Defines 'brandish' as waving or showing a weapon in a way that suggests you might use it.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who are charged with assault crimes
  • Law enforcement officers and judges dealing with assault cases

Terms To Know

Brandish
To wave or show a weapon in a way that suggests you might use it.
Aggravated Assault
A more serious form of assault, often involving weapons.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how the new law will be enforced.
  • It is unclear what specific changes this might bring to current sentencing guidelines for aggravated assault.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Judiciary Committee

  2. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Taken off notice for cal in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee of Judiciary Committee

  3. 2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/25/2026

  4. 2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 3/25/2026

  5. 2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/24/2026

  6. 2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 3/24/2026

  7. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/23/2026

  8. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/25/2026

  9. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee to 3/25/2026

  10. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/18/2026

  11. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee to 3/18/2026

  12. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/11/2026

  13. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee to 3/11/2026

  14. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/4/2026

  15. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee

  16. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee

  17. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Judiciary Committee

  18. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  19. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  20. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  21. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 2298
By Hardaway

SENATE BILL 2664
By Akbari
SB2664
012585
- 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 39-13-102(a), is amended by
deleting the language "Involved the use or display of a deadly weapon" and substituting
"Involved the use, display, or brandishing of a deadly weapon".
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-11-106(a), is amended by adding
the following new subdivision:
( ) "Brandish" means to wave or exhibit a weapon in a manner that would be
found by a reasonable person to indicate a threat to use the weapon;
SECTION 3. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.