Criminal Offenses - As enacted, enacts the "Chris Wright Act," which increases the penalty for a third or subsequent domestic assault conviction from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony; upgrades the offense classification for certain qualifying misdemeanor offenses to a Class E felony upon a defendant's conviction for a sixth or subsequent qualifying misdemeanor. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 40.

This law, known as the Chris Wright Act, increases penalties for repeat offenders in Tennessee by upgrading certain misdemeanor crimes to felonies. Specifically, a third or later conviction for domestic assault will be treated as a felony rather than a misdemeanor, while committing six or more qualifying misdemeanors within a twenty-year window will also result in felony charges. The bill defines "qualifying misdemeanors" to include offenses such as theft, assault, driving under the influence, and violations of protective orders, and it allows courts to count prior convictions from other states if the crimes are similar. To apply these stricter penalties, prosecutors must list the dates and details of previous offenses in the indictment, and the law takes effect on July 1, 2024.