PRIA Logo™
TennesseeSB 2466114th General Assembly (2025-2026)Senate

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 16; Title 17; Title 18; Title 20; Title 22; Title 24; Title 25; Title 26; Title 27; Title 28; Title 37; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40; Title 43; Title 54 and Title 55, relative to cargo theft.

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: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

Freight businesses gain theft reporting rights

Beginning July 1, 2026, carriers, brokers, shippers, and insurers with a lawful interest in freight can file theft reports. Filing locations include where cargo was offered for shipment, picked up, last lawfully controlled, or where theft was discovered. Reports can also be filed where a material theft act occurred or at the reporting truck or railroad carrier’s main business location. No force or unlawful entry is needed. Reporters need not prove ownership when they show a legitimate contract or financial interest. Police must accept reports that substantially meet the requirements, document them, assign case numbers, and enter them into crime databases. Police cannot refuse a report solely because the theft happened outside their area. Reports must be recognized as official theft reports for insurance and civil recovery; filing does not block a civil case. Agencies can coordinate with state and federal authorities, cargo theft task forces, and railroad police. Tennessee’s Department of Safety can issue rules and forms through the state’s administrative rulemaking process.

New criminal protections against freight theft

Beginning July 1, 2026, Tennessee makes fraudulent freight theft a separate crime, punishable as theft under § 39-14-105. It covers cargo shipped or offered for shipment by commercial truck or railroad. The crime involves unlawfully taking, controlling, redirecting, or disposing of cargo through deception, false claims, impersonation, or identity fraud. Examples include unauthorized double brokering, fake carrier identities, pickups using false credentials, and cargo diversion after a lawful pickup. Multiple acts in a common scheme can count as a continuing offense. The crime is separate from a contract breach or civil dispute.

Freight theft reporters must keep records

Beginning July 1, 2026, freight theft reporters must keep relevant records for at least five years after the offense. This includes electronic messages and transaction records. Reports must include information reasonably available about the parties, suspected fraudsters, freight, shipment documents, locations, and key dates and times. Required details include names, addresses, contacts, federal carrier numbers, cargo description, quantity, weight, value, and bill of lading numbers. Reports must also identify vehicles, equipment, plates, vehicle identification numbers, drivers, and driver licenses, with railroad equivalents where applicable. Reporters must provide fraud evidence, such as contracts, rate confirmations, messages, load postings, and altered documents. Reports also need insurance information and known or suspected resale or diversion locations. Police can request additional documents reasonably related to the investigation.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

There is no primary sponsor on record.

Cosponsors

  • Ed Jackson

    Republican • Senate

  • Paul Rose

    Republican • Senate

  • Jessie Seal

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 138 • No: 0

House vote • 4/14/2026

FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/14/2026

Yes: 96 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/13/2026

FLOOR VOTE: as Amended Third Consideration 4/13/2026

Yes: 33 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/24/2026

SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

Yes: 9 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

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

    5/4/2026

  2. Pub. Ch. 871

    5/4/2026

  3. Signed by Governor.

    4/27/2026Senate

  4. Transmitted to Governor for action.

    4/17/2026Senate

  5. Signed by H. Speaker

    4/16/2026House

  6. Signed by Senate Speaker

    4/15/2026Senate

  7. Enrolled and ready for signatures

    4/15/2026Senate

  8. Passed H., Ayes 96, Nays 0, PNV 0

    4/14/2026House

  9. Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA0966)

    4/14/2026House

  10. Subst. for comp. HB.

    4/14/2026House

  11. Sponsor(s) Added.

    4/13/2026Senate

  12. Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

    4/13/2026Senate

  13. Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 33, Nays 0

    4/13/2026Senate

  14. Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0924)

    4/13/2026Senate

  15. Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/13/2026

    4/10/2026Senate

  16. Refer to Senate Calendar Committee

    3/30/2026Senate

  17. Recalled from Senate Finance, Ways & Means Committee

    3/30/2026Senate

  18. Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee Ayes 9, Nays 0 PNV 0

    3/24/2026Senate

  19. Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/24/2026

    3/23/2026Senate

  20. Action deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 3/24/2026

    3/23/2026Senate

  21. Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/23/2026

    3/18/2026Senate

  22. Reset on Final calendar of Senate Judiciary Committee

    3/3/2026Senate

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

    2/25/2026Senate

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

    2/5/2026Senate

  25. Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

    2/2/2026Senate

Bill Text

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation