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TennesseeSB 1659114th General Assembly (2025-2026)Senate

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39 and Title 40, relative to sentencing for criminal offenses.

Sponsored By: Sponsor information unavailable

Signed by Governor

Sentencing

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

Tougher sentencing for child rape convictions

For acts occurring on or after July 1, 2026, Tennessee expands capital-sentencing rules to include child rape alongside first-degree murder. The law adds 12 aggravating factors—facts that can support harsher sentences, including the death penalty. These include aggravated rape of a child under age four, incest, abuse of trust or authority, and prior convictions involving unlawful sexual contact with minors. Sex-offender status or lifetime monitoring or registration requirements also count, as does filming, photographing, livestreaming, or transmitting images of the offense. Other factors include using substances to affect the victim, using a deadly weapon during child rape or aggravated child rape, and especially cruel conduct or torture. They also include knowing, or reasonably being expected to know, that the victim has a mental impairment or is physically helpless; paying for access or silence; and additional convictions in the related prosecution involving other victims. Those additional convictions must involve child rape, aggravated child rape, aggravated sexual battery, or continuous sexual abuse of a child. For child rape or aggravated child rape convictions, the victim’s participation or consent cannot count as a reason for a lighter sentence.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

There is no primary sponsor on record.

Cosponsors

  • Stevens

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Bo Watson

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 115 • No: 4

House vote • 3/30/2026

FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 3/30/2026

Yes: 77 • No: 4

Senate vote • 3/23/2026

FLOOR VOTE: Motion to Adopt 3/23/2026

Yes: 29 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/17/2026

SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

Yes: 9 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

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

    4/27/2026

  2. Pub. Ch. 693

    4/27/2026

  3. Signed by Governor.

    4/14/2026Senate

  4. Transmitted to Governor for action.

    4/2/2026Senate

  5. Signed by H. Speaker

    4/2/2026House

  6. Signed by Senate Speaker

    4/1/2026Senate

  7. Enrolled and ready for signatures

    4/1/2026Senate

  8. Passed H., Ayes 77, Nays 4, PNV 8

    3/30/2026House

  9. Subst. for comp. HB.

    3/30/2026House

  10. Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.

    3/26/2026House

  11. Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

    3/23/2026Senate

  12. Sponsor(s) Added.

    3/23/2026Senate

  13. Passed Senate, Ayes 29, Nays 0

    3/23/2026Senate

  14. Placed on Senate Consent Calendar 2 for 3/23/2026

    3/20/2026Senate

  15. Sponsor(s) Added.

    3/17/2026Senate

  16. Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee

    3/17/2026Senate

  17. Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/17/2026

    3/16/2026Senate

  18. Action deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 3/17/2026

    3/16/2026Senate

  19. Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/16/2026

    3/11/2026Senate

  20. Action deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 3/17/2026

    3/9/2026Senate

  21. Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/9/2026

    3/4/2026Senate

  22. Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee

    1/21/2026Senate

  23. Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

    1/15/2026Senate

  24. Filed for introduction

    1/14/2026Senate

Bill Text

  • Enrolled / Public Chapter

    PDF

  • Fiscal Note

    PDF

  • Introduced

    PDF

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