Criminal Offenses - As enacted, specifies that, in regard to the criminal offense of desecration of a venerated object, "desecrate" includes, but is not limited to, the removal of objects from a place of burial by a person other than a family member of the deceased or an authorized representative of the cemetery. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 46.

HB 1731 amends Tennessee law to clarify that "desecrate" includes removing objects from burial sites by anyone who isn't a family member of the deceased or a cemetery representative. This directly affects individuals who might disturb graves or burial artifacts without proper authorization. The key provision expands the legal definition within existing criminal offense statutes (Tennessee Code Sections 39-17-311) to specifically cover unauthorized removal of items from burial places. The change takes effect July 1, 2026.