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PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 706
SENATE BILL NO. 1880
By Johnson, Roberts, Hatcher, Rose
Substituted for: House Bill No. 1639
By Lamberth, Cochran, Doggett, Russell, Terry
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 29; Title 4, Chapter 3, Part 20 and
Section 38-3-114, relative to the office of homeland security.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 3, Part 20, is amended by adding
the following as a new section:
4-3-2020. Office of homeland security.
(a) There is created within the department of safety the office of homeland security.
(b) The commissioner shall appoint the head of the office.
(c) The office shall employ such commissioned agents and noncommissioned
personnel as may be necessary to carry out the operations of the office. Agents must be
commissioned under§ 38-3-114.
(d) The office may:
(1) Direct the state's homeland security activities, including, but not limited to,
the planning, coordination, and implementation of all homeland security prevention,
protection, and response operations;
(2) Design, develop, and implement a comprehensive, coordinated strategy to
secure this state from terrorist threats and attacks;
(3) Assist related agencies of the federal government, agencies of local
governments, agencies of other state governments, and related private sector entities
on matters of homeland security;
(4) At the request of the chief law enforcement agent of a state or local law
enforcement agency, provide technical and investigative support;
(5) Conduct investigations and provide technical and investigative support
when the office has reasonable suspicion to believe a violation of the laws of this
state has occurred, is occurring, or is imminent, and the investigation relates to one
(1) or more of the following:
(A) Threats or acts of terrorism or suspected terrorism;
(B) Threats to, or attacks on, schools in accordance with § 49-6-2701;
(C) Threats to, or attacks on, critical infrastructure;
(D) Threats to, or attacks on, public officials;
(E) Protection of public officials, locations, and events;
SB 1880
(F) Cybercrimes and cyber-enabled offenses including:
(i) Unauthorized access to, intrusion into, or interference with
the operation of a computer, computer system, computer network, or
data;
(ii) Damage to, disruption of, or denial of service affecting
critical infrastructure or essential governmental services;
(iii) Cyber-enabled fraud, extortion, ransomware, or theft; and
(iv) Online threats or coordinated cyber activity intended to
facilitate an offense described in subdivisions (a)(5)(A)-(F);
(6) Administer any funds as may be authorized by the general assembly;
(7) Coordinate policy related to school security according to § 49-6-802 and
review school security plans as authorized in§ 49-6-4302;
(8) Upon request of the secretary of state's office, assist with securing the
state's election infrastructure; and
(9) Cooperate and exchange information with other state agencies, other law
enforcement agencies, and federal, state, and local law enforcement stakeholders,
within and outside of this state, through a statewide information and intelligence
center to obtain information to prevent, detect, and control crime and apprehend
criminals.
(e) For purposes of subdivision (d)(5), a cyber misinformation campaign or a cyber
disinformation campaign is not grounds for investigation unless there is a reasonable
suspicion that the conduct is undertaken in furtherance of, or constitutes, a violation of the
criminal laws of this state.
(f) Homeland security agents are not prohibited from investigating crimes not
specifically referred to in this section if they are discovered in furtherance of an investigation
of a crime the homeland security agent is authorized to investigate pursuant to this section.
Likewise, other law enforcement agencies are •not prohibited from investigating crimes
referred to in this section.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 38-3-114, is amended by deleting the
section and substituting instead:
(a) The commissioner of safety may commission such number of homeland security
agents who directly support state, federal, and local law enforcement activities, as authorized
in§ 4-3-2020, to act as peace officers for the office of homeland security.
(b) Each homeland security agent, throughout every county in this state, has the
powers of a peace officer, including the power to make arrests for public offenses anywhere
in this state. Further, such agents may serve process in criminal prosecutions for such
offenses, and may carry weapons for the reasonable purposes of their offices and while in
the performance of their assigned duties, and carry off-duty as authorized by § 39-17-1350.
(c) The keepers of jails in any county or municipality where a violation occurs, for
which any such arrest is made by a homeland security agent, shall receive all persons
arrested by such agent to be dealt with according to law, and persons so arrested must be
received by keepers of jails on the same basis and have the same status as prisoners
arrested by any other law enforcement agent.
(d) Every homeland security agent shall, when on duty, have in the agent's
possession a badge and identification card identifying the agent as a homeland security
agent, and the agent shall exhibit the badge and identification card on demand and before
making an arrest within a reasonable time.
(e) Homeland security agents appointed under this section must complete
appropriate initial training and r~current law enforcement training substantially equivalent to
the requirements of the Tennessee. peace officer standards and training commission.
SECTION ·3_ The heading in this act is for reference purposes only and does not constitute a
part of the law enacted by this act. However, the Tennessee Code Commission is requested to
include the heading in any compilation or publication _containing this act.
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SB 1880
SECTION 4. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.
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SENATE BILL NO. 1880
PASSED: March 30, 2026
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' RANDY-M~NlLLy
SPEAKER OF THE SENATE
CAMERCffl"SEXTON,SPEAKER
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
6~ /Apr; APPROVED this { I 2026
day of
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BILL LEE, GOVERNOREvery fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.