Criminal Offenses - As enacted, makes various changes to law relative to human trafficking. - Amends TCA Title 37; Title 39 and Title 40. SB1225 has been assigned Public Chapter Number 886 by the Secretary of State, the official text

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                              PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 886

                                                    SENATE BILL NO. 1225

                                                   By Rose, Bailey, Bowling

                                            Substituted for: House Bill No. 1354

                                      By Littleton, Davis, Alexander, Howell, White

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 37; Title 39 and Title 40, relative to criminal
          offenses.

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

          SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-11-611(c), is amended by designating
the existing language as subdivision (c)(1) and adding the following as a new subdivision (c)(2):

                    (2)(A) A person is presumed to have held a reasonable belief of imminent death or
                    serious bodily injury to self if:

                                        (i) The person uses force intended or likely to cause death or serious
                              bodily injury against an individual who is committing or attempting to commit a
                              human trafficking offense; and

                                        (ii) The person using force is the victim of the human trafficking offense
                              being committed or attempted by the individual.

                              (8) A person must prove the person's status as a victim of human trafficking
                    by clear and convincing evidence. A person may provide clear and convincing
                    evidence of the person's status as a victim of human trafficking through testimony.

          SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-11-611(d), is amended by deleting
"subsection (c)" and substituting "subdivision (c)(1)".

          SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-11-611(a), is amended by adding the
following as a new subdivision:

                    ( ) "Human trafficking offense" means the commission of an act that would constitute
          the criminal offense of:

                              (A) Involuntary labor servitude, under§ 39-13-307;

                              (B) Trafficking persons for forced labor or services, under§ 39-13-308;

                              (C) Trafficking for commercial sex act, under § 39-13-309;

                              (D) Patronizing prostitution, under§ 39-13-514, from a person who is younger
                    than eighteen (18) years of age, has an intellectual disability, or is a law enforcement
                    officer posing as a minor;

                              (E) Promoting prostitution, under § 39-13-515, of a person more than twelve
                    (12) years of age but less than eighteen (18) years of age or a person with an
                    intellectual disability; or

                              (F) Promoting the prostitution of a minor, under§ 39-13-512;
SB 1225
          SECTION 4. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 40-11-153(a), is amended by deleting "or

obstructing a highway" and substituting "or obstructing a highway or other passageway".
          SECTION 5. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.

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         SENATE BILL NO. 1225

PASSED:  April 16, 2026

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                   ' ""  •'            RANDY McNA\LY

                             SPEAKER OF THE SENATE

                         CAMERON~EXTON,SPEAKER
                         HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SiL APPROVED this  day of (V1 ~        2026

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                   BILL LEE, GOVERNOR