Criminal Justice (Human Trafficking)

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 31, 2025

SB 906: Sexual Offenses - As introduced, enacts the "Tennessee Sexual Violence Justice Act," making various changes to the requirements for investigating sexual offenses. - Amends TCA Title 29; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40 and Title 67.

This bill, known as the Tennessee Sexual Violence Justice Act, establishes new requirements for law enforcement officers investigating sexual assault cases in Tennessee. It mandates that investigators complete annual trauma-informed training focused on victim-centered approaches, with specific curriculum standards developed in coordination with victim advocates and healthcare providers. The legislation also requires the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to test sexual assault evidence collection kits within 90 days of receipt and submit annual reports on testing timelines to state officials. Additionally, the bill ensures that DNA profiles from these kits are eligible for entry into national and local DNA databases to aid in solving cases.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enhances police accountability and victim-centered approaches in sexual assault investigations, strengthening criminal justice reform efforts.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Law Enforcement Violent Crime

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 5, 2026

SB 2396: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, creates the new criminal offenses of systematic unauthorized employment and aggravated systematic unauthorized employment; establishes the tort of unfair competition. - Amends TCA Title 29 and Title 39.

SB 2396 creates new criminal offenses for employers who systematically evade federal employment verification rules (like I-9 forms) or exploit unauthorized workers. It targets employers - especially officers, managers, or general contractors - with repeated violations, making it a Class E felony. Key mechanisms include mandatory restitution for lost wages, unpaid taxes, and benefits, plus fines of $50,000-$500,000 for businesses. The bill directly affects employers who fail to comply with verification requirements across multiple workers, with penalties extending to business owners and contractors. It also requires future compliance monitoring for convicted entities.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill creates new criminal offenses (systematic unauthorized employment) and expands criminalization via Class E felony penalties, aligning with 'oppose' indicator of expanding criminalization.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill mandates restitution for lost wages/benefits and fines against employers evading verification, directly protecting workers from exploitation and strengthening labor rights enforcement.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Victims' Rights

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in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 18, 2026

HB 2235: Human Rights - As introduced, enacts the "Tennessee Fair Chance Housing Act." - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 21 and Title 66.

HB 2235, the "Tennessee Fair Chance Housing Act," prohibits housing providers (like landlords, property managers, and real estate agents) from discriminating against applicants based solely on criminal history. It establishes time limits: housing providers can only consider misdemeanor convictions within the past 3 years and felony convictions within the past 10 years. For sex offense convictions, providers must conduct an individualized assessment to determine if there's a direct safety risk before denying housing. The bill also bans questions about arrests that didn't result in conviction and requires written evaluations considering factors like rehabilitation efforts and the nature of the offense.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits housing discrimination based on criminal history, reducing barriers to reentry and promoting rehabilitation through time limits on conviction consideration.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingProhibits housing discrimination based on criminal history, protecting tenant rights and increasing housing access for individuals with past records.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Tenant Rights

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate May 18, 2026

SB 2178: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, increases the penalty for patronizing prostitution from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class B or Class A felony under certain circumstances that are currently punished as trafficking for a commercial sex act. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 13.

SB 2178 increases penalties for buying sex (patronizing prostitution) in specific situations. It upgrades the offense to a Class B felony if the person bought sex from a law enforcement officer posing as a minor or someone with an intellectual disability, and to a Class A felony if the person was a minor under 18. The bill also adds a minimum 7-day jail term and $1,000 fine for buying sex within 1.5 miles of a school. These changes directly affect individuals who engage in buying sex from vulnerable groups or near schools, raising penalties from misdemeanor to felony levels.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for patronizing prostitution to felony levels, expanding criminalization and harsher sentencing without reform elements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Human Trafficking Law Enforcement

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signed · Tennessee · House May 18, 2026

HB 1787: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, increases the penalty for patronizing prostitution from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class B or Class A felony under certain circumstances that are currently punished as trafficking for a commercial sex act. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 13.

HB 1787 (Criminal Offenses) increases penalties for patronizing prostitution when the victim is in specific vulnerable categories. It raises the offense to a Class B felony if the victim is a law enforcement officer posing as a minor or a person with an intellectual disability, and to a Class A felony if the victim is under 18. The bill also mandates at least 7 days in jail and a $1,000 fine for patronizing prostitution within 1.5 miles of a school. These changes apply to cases currently treated as trafficking for commercial sex acts under Tennessee law. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases penalties for patronizing prostitution to felony levels in specific cases, expanding criminalization and mandating jail time/fines, aligning with 'increases mandatory sentences' indicator.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Human Trafficking Law Enforcement

failed · Tennessee · Senate Apr 8, 2026

SB 2137: Sentencing - As introduced, requires a defendant to be sentenced to imprisonment for life as a repeat violent offender under certain circumstances. - Amends TCA Title 38; Title 39; Title 40 and Title 41.

SB 2137 requires Tennessee courts to sentence defendants as "repeat violent offenders" to life imprisonment if they have three or more prior violent convictions committed on or after July 1, 2026. It defines "violent offenses" to include crimes like aggravated rape, murder, kidnapping, human trafficking, and certain child sexual abuse offenses, with at least two prior convictions needing to be from the most severe listed offenses. This law directly affects individuals convicted of new violent crimes who have prior violent felony convictions meeting the specified criteria. The bill amends Tennessee sentencing statutes to implement this mandatory life sentence requirement for qualifying repeat offenders.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandates life sentences for repeat violent offenders with three prior convictions, expanding mandatory minimums without rehabilitation focus. Directly increases punitive sentencing.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Sentencing

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in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 21, 2025

HB 182: Tattoos and Piercings - As enacted, enacts "The Ink of Hope Act"; requires tattoo operators and tattoo artists to complete up to one hour of training on recognizing and reporting signs of human trafficking. - Amends TCA Title 62, Chapter 38.

HB 182, known as "The Ink of Hope Act," requires tattoo operators and artists in Tennessee to complete a one-hour training course on recognizing and reporting human trafficking signs before obtaining a permit or renewing a license. The training, provided at no cost by an approved nonprofit, covers identifying trafficking indicators, responding appropriately, referring clients to victim resources, and reporting to the Tennessee Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline. Existing license holders must complete this training by December 31, 2028, or risk license invalidation. The bill also protects licensed individuals from civil or criminal liability for good-faith actions related to human trafficking reporting.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires tattoo operators to train on recognizing/reporting human trafficking, enhancing victim protection and law enforcement response to a critical crime, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking

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signed · Tennessee · Senate Apr 8, 2025

SB 335: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, enacts the "Voyeurism Victims Act." - Amends TCA Title 28; Title 29; Title 36, Chapter 3, Part 6; Title 39 and Title 40, Chapter 2.

SB 335, the "Voyeurism Victims Act," amends Tennessee law to specifically address unauthorized photography (voyeurism) by defining "unlawful photography" and expanding legal protections for victims. It adds new provisions to criminalize hidden-camera photography, multiple-victim cases, and extends the statute of limitations for prosecution by tolling it during the defendant's concealment of the crime. The bill also integrates "unlawful photography" into existing domestic violence, stalking, and human trafficking protections, allowing victims to seek relief through related legal pathways. This law directly affects individuals who experience unauthorized photography, providing clearer legal recourse and updated penalties. It takes effect July 1, 2025, after being signed by the Governor on March 25, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens victim protections in criminal justice by defining voyeurism, criminalizing hidden cameras, and extending statute of limitations for prosecution.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Human Trafficking

signed · Tennessee · Senate May 15, 2025

SB 392: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, creates the offense of human smuggling; makes related changes. - Amends TCA Title 39.

SB 392 creates a new Class E felony offense for "human smuggling" in Tennessee, defined as knowingly transporting 10+ adults or 5+ minors across state lines while concealing them from immigration authorities, with knowledge they entered the U.S. illegally. It also establishes a Class A misdemeanor for harboring undocumented immigrants (a $1,000 fine per person). The law amends Tennessee Code to include human smuggling under "human trafficking offenses" and grants the Attorney General authority to seek court orders dissolving organizations involved in these crimes. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill creates new felony/misdemeanor offenses for human smuggling and harboring undocumented immigrants, expanding criminalization without reform measures. Aligns with 'oppose' indicators of increased penalties.90% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationCreates Class E felony for human smuggling and Class A misdemeanor for harboring undocumented immigrants, increasing state-level immigration enforcement penalties.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Human Trafficking

died · Tennessee · House May 15, 2025

HB 322: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, creates the offense of human smuggling; makes related changes. - Amends TCA Title 39.

HB 322 creates a new criminal offense of "human smuggling" under Tennessee law, directly affecting individuals who transport people across borders for financial gain while concealing them from authorities. The bill defines human smuggling as transporting 10+ adults or 5+ minors (knowing they entered the U.S. illegally) to avoid detection by law enforcement, or encouraging such entry. It classifies this as a Class E felony, punishable by up to 6 years in prison, and adds misdemeanor penalties for harboring individuals who entered the U.S. illegally. The law also grants the state attorney general authority to seek court orders dissolving organizations involved in trafficking or smuggling.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new felony for human smuggling, expanding criminalization and increasing penalties under criminal justice framework.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Human Trafficking

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