PRIA Logo™
TennesseeHB 2279114th General Assembly (2025-2026)House

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 38 and Title 39, relative to foreign actors.

Sponsored By: Sponsor information unavailable

Signed by Governor

Criminal Offenses

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

Felonies for illegal enforcement of foreign laws

Beginning July 1, 2026, the law makes specified illegal enforcement of foreign laws a felony. It covers preventing, detecting, investigating, monitoring, surveilling, or prosecuting offenses under a foreign adversary's or terrorist organization's rules. The conduct must be knowing or intentional, violate Tennessee or federal law, and lack an authorized law enforcement agency's knowledge and approval. The offense is a Class D felony, or Class C when the offender acts as an agent of a foreign adversary government or terrorist organization. Federal listings and designations identify the covered foreign adversaries and terrorist organizations.

Stronger penalties and reporting for foreign intimidation

Beginning July 1, 2026, qualifying foreign-directed crimes carry punishment one class higher. Offenders must knowingly act at the direction of, for, or under the influence of a foreign adversary, terrorist organization, or proxy. They must intend to force someone to serve that entity, leave the United States, stop protected conduct, or face retaliation for it. Protected conduct means lawful activity, including religion, public-interest speech, petitions to government, and peaceful assembly. The increase excludes Class A felonies and conduct protected by the First Amendment. Each state agency must also address transnational repression in its policies and procedures and provide direct complaint channels to an agency representative.

Foreign law cannot override constitutional rights

Beginning July 1, 2026, Tennessee cannot enforce certain decisions or contracts that rely partly or fully on foreign law. They are void when they deny a party a liberty, right, or privilege guaranteed by the Tennessee or U.S. Constitution. This covers decisions by state courts, arbitration panels, tribunals, and administrative agencies, plus contracts and individual contract terms. Relying on foreign law alone does not make a decision or contract invalid; both conditions must apply.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

There is no primary sponsor on record.

Cosponsors

  • Michele Carringer

    Republican • House

  • John Crawford

    Republican • House

  • Kirk Haston

    Republican • House

  • Dan Howell

    Republican • House

  • Mary Littleton

    Republican • House

  • Susan M. Lynn

    Republican • House

  • Jake McCalmon

    Republican • House

  • Debra Moody

    Republican • House

  • Bryan Terry

    Republican • House

  • Chris Todd

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 128 • No: 14

Senate vote • 4/6/2026

FLOOR VOTE: Third Consideration 4/6/2026

Yes: 27 • No: 2

House vote • 3/26/2026

FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 3/26/2026

Yes: 77 • No: 12

House vote • 3/26/2026

HOUSE CALENDAR & RULES COMMITTEE

Yes: 0 • No: 0

House vote • 3/11/2026

HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

Yes: 18 • No: 0

House vote • 2/18/2026

HOUSE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SUBCOMMITTEE

Yes: 6 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective date(s) 07/01/2026

    4/27/2026

  2. Pub. Ch. 777

    4/27/2026

  3. Signed by Governor.

    4/21/2026

  4. Transmitted to Governor for his action.

    4/9/2026House

  5. Signed by Senate Speaker

    4/8/2026Senate

  6. Signed by H. Speaker

    4/8/2026House

  7. Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.

    4/7/2026House

  8. Passed Senate, Ayes 27, Nays 2

    4/6/2026Senate

  9. Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - SA0713)

    4/6/2026Senate

  10. Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.

    4/6/2026Senate

  11. Received from House, Passed on First Consideration

    3/30/2026Senate

  12. Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.

    3/26/2026House

  13. Sponsor(s) Added.

    3/26/2026House

  14. Passed H., as am., Ayes 77, Nays 12, PNV 2

    3/26/2026House

  15. H. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA0652)

    3/26/2026House

  16. H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 3/26/2026

    3/19/2026House

  17. Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 3/19/2026

    3/18/2026House

  18. Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee

    3/11/2026House

  19. Sponsor(s) Added.

    3/10/2026House

  20. Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/11/2026

    3/4/2026House

  21. Action def. in Judiciary Committee to 3/11/2026

    3/4/2026House

  22. Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/4/2026

    2/25/2026House

  23. Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Judiciary Committee

    2/18/2026House

  24. Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 2/18/2026

    2/11/2026House

  25. Assigned to s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee

    2/5/2026House

Bill Text

  • HA0652 (Substitute)

    3/26/2026

    PDF

  • Enrolled / Public Chapter

    PDF

  • Fiscal Note

    PDF

  • Introduced

    PDF

  • SA0713

    PDF

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation