HB 403 Tennessee House · 114th Regular Session (2025-2026)

Criminal Offenses - As introduced, expands the offense of unlawful photography to include a photograph that the defendant knew would include the victim engaged in sexual activity; increases the penalty for the offense of unlawful photography from a Class A misdemeanor or a Class E felony to a Class D felony in certain circumstances; authorizes the issuance of an order of protection for a person who has been subjected to, threatened with, or placed in fear of unlawful photography. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 13 and Title 40.

HB 403 expands Tennessee's unlawful photography law to cover photos where the defendant knew the victim was engaged in sexual activity. It upgrades penalties for this offense to a felony (Class D) in specific cases, replacing previous misdemeanor or lower felony classifications. The bill also allows courts to issue protection orders for victims who have been subjected to, threatened with, or feared such non-consensual photography. This directly affects individuals who commit non-consensual photography and victims of such acts. The changes apply to offenses occurring on or after July 1, 2025.
Bill status in committee 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
House Passage
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 3, 2025 Last action Apr 9, 2025
Floor votes · House Mar 5, 2025

How they voted

210
Passed
Total votes 21
Mar 5, 2025
D Democratic6
6 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican15
15 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
16
Key actions
6
Committee
9
Apr 9, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2025
lower
Mar 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 3/19/2025
lower
Mar 6, 2025
Committee
Assigned to s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee
lower
Mar 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
lower
Mar 5, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (21-0)
house
Feb 26, 2025
Committee
Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Judiciary Committee
lower
Feb 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/5/2025
lower
Feb 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 2/26/2025
lower
Feb 5, 2025
Committee
P2C, ref. to Judiciary Committee
lower
Feb 5, 2025
Committee
Assigned to s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee
lower
Feb 3, 2025
Introduced
Intro., P1C.
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of John Crawford
John Crawford
RRepublican
TN
1