Criminal Offenses - As enacted, increases the penalty from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony for a person who commits child abuse by knowingly treating a child between 9 and 17 in such a manner as to inflict injury. - Amends TCA Title 36; Title 37; Title 39 and Title 40.

HB 45 increases the penalty for child abuse of children aged 9 to 17 from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Section 39-15-401(a) to impose this stricter penalty for knowingly causing injury to a child in this age group through abusive treatment. This change will take effect on July 1, 2025, applying to offenses committed on or after that date. The law directly affects individuals convicted of such child abuse by elevating their criminal penalties under Tennessee statute.