Obscenity and Pornography - As introduced, expands the definition of "adult-oriented establishment", for purposes of imposing certain requirements, to include commercial establishments that offer sexually oriented material, devices, or paraphernalia, adult cabaret entertainment, or specified sexual activities, but for which such materials, devices, paraphernalia, entertainment, or activities are not the principal or predominant stock or trade. - Amends TCA Title 7, Chapter 51, Part 14.
HB 884 amends Tennessee law to expand the definition of "adult-oriented establishment" to include any commercial venue offering sexually oriented material, adult cabaret entertainment, or specified sexual activities - even if these are not the primary business focus. This change directly affects businesses like restaurants that sell adult magazines or host occasional adult entertainment, as they would now fall under the same regulations as dedicated adult venues. The key mechanism removes the requirement that such material must be the "principal or predominant stock or trade," broadening the scope of regulated establishments. The bill takes effect May 1, 2025, and does not introduce new restrictions but redefines which businesses are subject to existing requirements.
Bill status
passed
3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
House Passage
Jan 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 5, 2025
Last action Jan 14, 2026
Floor votes · House Jan 13, 2026
How they voted
73–23
Passed
Total votes 96
Jan 13, 2026
D
Democratic23
100% Nay
R
Republican73
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
24
Key actions
11
Committee
11
Amendments
2
Jan 14, 2026
Introduced
Received from House, Passed on First Consideration
lower
Jan 13, 2026
Amended
Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA0215)
lower
Jan 13, 2026
Lower · Passed
H. adopted am. (Amendment 2 - HA0541)
lower
Jan 13, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed H., as am., Ayes 73, Nays 24, PNV 0
lower
Mar 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee
lower
Mar 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 3/27/2025
lower
Mar 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Action def. in Judiciary Committee to 3/26/2025
lower
Mar 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/26/2025
lower
Mar 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
Action def. in Judiciary Committee to 3/19/2025
lower
Mar 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/19/2025
lower
Mar 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Judiciary Committee
lower
Mar 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/12/2025
lower
Feb 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/5/2025
lower
Feb 10, 2025
Committee
Assigned to s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee
lower
Feb 6, 2025
Committee
P2C, ref. to Judiciary Committee
lower
Feb 5, 2025
Introduced
Intro., P1C.
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Chris Todd
RRepublican
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