Criminal Offenses - As enacted, makes revisions to law relative to offenses occurring at a house of worship. - Amends TCA Title 29 and Title 39. SB2468 has been assigned Public Chapter Number 1140 by the Secretary of Sta, the official text

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                            PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 1140

                                                    SENATE BILL NO. 2468

     By Bailey, Hatcher, Crowe, Gardenhire, Hensley, Jackson, Lowe, Pody, Rose, Stevens

                                           Substituted for: House Bill No. 2309

                    By Garringer, Sherrell, Reneau, Doggett, Hale, Reeves, Moody, Davis

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 29 and Title 39, relative to criminal conduct.

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

          SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-14-408(c)(1), is amended by adding
the following new subdivision:

                    (C) Notwithstanding § 40-35-111, in addition to any sentence imposed for a violation
          of subdivision (b)(1 }, if the offense occurred at a house of worship, the court must include as
          part of the sentence a fine of no less than two (2) times the total amount of any property
          damage or loss or cleaning and restoration expenses incurred by the house of worship as a
          result of the offense.

          SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-17-306, is amended by deleting
subsection (b) and substituting:

                    (b) A person commits an offense when the person, by force, threat of force, or
          physical obstruction, intentionally injures, intimidates, or interferes with or attempts to injure,
          intimidate, or interfere with another lawfully exercising or seeking to exercise the right of
          religious freedom, under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution or Article I, §
          3 of the Tennessee Constitution, at a house of worship.

                    (c) A person commits an offense when the person intentionally damages or destroys
          or attempts to damage or destroy the property of a house of worship.

                    (d)(1) A violation of subsection (a) is a Class A misdemeanor.

                              (2) A violation of subsection (b) or (c) is:

                                        (A) A Class E felony, if the violation is a first offense; or

                                        (B) A Class C felony, if the violation is a second or subsequent
                              offense.

                    (e) As used in this section:

                              (1) "Interfere" means to obstruct a person's freedom of movement;

                              (2) "Intimidate" means to place a person in a reasonable apprehension of
                    bodily injury to the person or another; and

                              (3) "Physical obstruction" means rendering impassable ingress or egress to or
                    from a house of worship or rendering passage to or from such house of worship
                    unreasonably difficult or hazardous.

                    (f)(1) The following parties that were aggrieved by conduct prohibited by subsection
                    (b) or (c) may commence a civil action under subdivision (g)(2):
SB 2468
                                        (A) A person who was lawfully exercising or seeking to exercise the

                              person's right of religious freedom under the First Amendment of the United
                              States Constitution or Article I, § 3 of the Tennessee Constitution, at a house
                              of worship at which the offense occurred; and

                                        (8) The entity that owns or operates the house of worship at which the
                              offense occurred.
                              (2) In an action under this subsection (g), the court may award the appropriate
                    relief, including:

                                        (A) Injunctive relief;
                                        (B) Compensatory damages or statutory damages of five thousand
                              dollars ($5,000) per violation;
                                        (C) Punitive damages, as provided in § 29-39-104; and
                                        (D) Reasonable costs of bringing the action and attorney's fees.
                    (g) If the attorney general and reporter determines that a person or group of persons
          has been injured by conduct constituting a violation of subsection (b) or (c), the attorney
          general and reporter may commence a civil action seeking:
                              (1) Injunctive relief; and
                              (2) A civil penalty in an amount not to exceed:
                                        (A) Ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for a first violation of subsection (b)
                              or (c) that did not involve the use of or threat to use force;
                                        (8) Fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) for a first violation of subsection
                              (b) or (c) involving the use of or threat to use force; or
                                        (C) Fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) for a second or subsequent
                              violation.
          SECTION 3. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.

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         SENATE BILL NO. 2468

PASSED:  April 22, 2026

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                                                            RANDY McllALLY
                                               SPEAKER OF THE S~ATE

                                  CAMERON SEXTON, SPEAKER
                                  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

rY\ APPROVED this :;(}.w) day of  0 •"     2026

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                    BILL LEE, GOVERNOR