Criminal Offenses - As enacted, clarifies, for purposes of criminal offenses relative to threats of mass violence on school property or at a school-related activity or failing to report such threats, that a threat of mas, the official text

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                             PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 780

                                                     SENATE BILL NO. 591

                                                   By Haile, Bailey, Bowling

                                            Substituted for: House Bill No. 1273

                    By Doggett, Hardaway, Lafferty, Greg Martin, Moody, Reedy, Garringer

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39, relative to threats of violence.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:

          SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-16-517(c), is amended by deleting "§
33-7-301" and substituting "title 33, chapter 6, part 4".

          SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-16-517(d), is amended by deleting the
subsection and substituting:

                    (d)(1) A person who has knowledge of a credible threat of mass violence on school
                    property or at a school-related activity shall report the threat immediately to:

                                        (A) The local law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over the school
                              property or school-related activity; and

                                        (8) The school that is subject to the threat of mass violence.

                              (2) The report must include, to the extent known by the reporter, the nature of
                    the threat of mass violence, the name and address of the person making the threat,
                    the facts requiring the report, and any other pertinent information.

                              (3) A person who has knowledge of a credible threat of mass violence on
                    school property or at a school-related activity and knowingly fails to report the threat
                    commits a Class B misdemeanor. A threat of mass violence is credible for purposes
                    of this section if the threat causes another to reasonably expect the commission of an
                    act of mass violence.

          SECTION 3. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.
         SENATE BILL NO. 591

PASSED:  April 6, 2026

                                          a..     '     t RANDYM<-

                                                     SPEAKER OF THE ~

                                                  CAMERON-SEXTON,SPEAKER
                                                  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

{¾x; ~ APPROVED this                                 I
                                          day of        2026

         -~
         BILL LEE, GOVERNOR

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