SB 1938 Tennessee Senate · 114th Regular Session (2025-2026)

Orders of Protection - As introduced, increases from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony the penalty for the criminal offense of violation of an order of protection if the order violated was a lifetime order of protection and the conviction that the lifetime order of protection was based on involved the use of force against a victim. - Amends TCA Title 36 and Title 39.

SB 1938 increases the penalty for violating a lifetime order of protection from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony under specific circumstances. This applies when the violation occurs after a conviction for an offense involving force against a victim (such as assault) that led to the lifetime order. The bill also requires prison sentences for such violations to be served consecutively to other sentences for the same incident, though judges may allow concurrent sentences in some cases. The law would take effect on July 1, 2026, and affects individuals convicted of violent offenses who later violate lifetime protective orders.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 22, 2026 Last action Apr 20, 2026
Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
12
Key actions
5
Committee
7
Apr 20, 2026
Committee
Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
lower
Apr 20, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/21/2026
lower
Apr 16, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/20/2026
lower
Apr 14, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/21/2026
lower
Mar 3, 2026
Upper · Passed
Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee Ayes 9, Nays 0 PNV 0
upper
Feb 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/3/2026
lower
Feb 2, 2026
Committee
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee
upper
Jan 22, 2026
Introduced
Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Ed Jackson
Ed Jackson
RRepublican
TN
25