Image Credit: TN General Assembly
The Tennessee Conservative [By Adelia Kirchner] –
A bill that aims to cut down on child abuse cases in Tennessee by increasing the penalty for individuals who commit child abuse by “knowingly treating a child between the ages of nine and 17 in such a manner as to inflict injury” passed unanimously by a 9-0 vote in the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee on Wednesday.
Republican Representatives Fred Atchley, Clay Doggett, Andrew Farmer, William Lamberth, Mary Littleton, Lowell Russell, and Rick Scarbrough, as well as Democrat Representatives Jason Powell, and Gabby Salinas all voted in favor of moving the legislation forward.
House Bill 45 (HB0045), sponsored by Rep. Jake McCalmon (R-Franklin-District 63), would increase what is currently a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony for intentional child abuse infliction of injury.
Current state law dictates that abusing a child “in such a manner to inflict injury” is only a felony if the child is 8 years old or younger. If the child is at least 9 years old, it is a misdemeanor.
“To me, there’s not much difference between an 8-year-old and a 9-year-old,” said Rep. McCalmon, “so it should at least be a Class E felony.”
The bill sponsor previously told News 2 that he drafted the bill after discovering that “grand theft,” stealing $500 or more in property, carries a higher charge in Tennessee than abusing and injuring a child between the age of 9 and 17 years old.
“I use the example of, say if I go and steal a Louis Vuitton purse for my wife. That’s a Class E felony. I could do up to five years in prison,” he explained. “But if somebody decides to beat a kid to the point where they’re hospitalized, that’s a Class A misdemeanor.”
During Wednesday’s committee meeting, Rep. McCalmon noted that the same legislation was brought in 2024.
“This passed last year in the 113th General Assembly. We just unfortunately weren’t able to fund it,” said Rep. McCalmon. “Bringing it back this year in high hopes of getting it done.”
Rep. Jason Powell (D-Nashville-District 53) asked if the legislation had anything to do with “gender-affirming care.”
Rep. Gabby Salinas (D-Memphis-District 96) followed up with a similar question saying, “Just to clarify, if a parent gets gender-affirming care for their kid, that is not child abuse?”
“We have effectively banned that practice in this state so that is not spoken to in this bill. This has to do with the conviction of child abuse,” Rep. McCalmon responded.
HB0045 has now been placed on the full House Judiciary Committee’s calendar for Wednesday, March 5th, 2025.
Their contact information can be found below:
Rep.andrew.farmer@capitol.tn.gov, rep.elaine.davis@capitol.tn.gov, rep.rebecca.alexander@capitol.tn.gov, rep.fred.atchley@capitol.tn.gov, rep.gino.bulso@capitol.tn.gov, rep.clay.doggett@capitol.tn.gov, rep.rick.eldridge@capitol.tn.gov, rep.johnny.garrett@capitol.tn.gov, rep.torrey.harris@capitol.tn.gov, rep.gloria.johnson@capitol.tn.gov, rep.kelly.keisling@capitol.tn.gov, rep.william.lamberth@capitol.tn.gov, rep.mary.littleton@capitol.tn.gov, rep.jason.powell@capitol.tn.gov, rep.dennis.powers@capitol.tn.gov, rep.lowell.russell@capitol.tn.gov, rep.gabby.salinas@capitol.tn.gov, rep.rick.scarbrough@capitol.tn.gov, rep.tom.stinnett@capitol.tn.gov, rep.chris.todd@capitol.tn.gov, rep.joe.towns@capitol.tn.gov, rep.ron.travis@capitol.tn.gov
About the Author: Adelia Kirchner is a Tennessee resident and reporter for the Tennessee Conservative. Currently the host of Subtle Rampage Podcast, she has also worked for the South Dakota State Legislature and interned for Senator Bill Hagerty’s Office in Nashville, Tennessee. Adelia is The Tennessee Conservative’s on-site reporter for the Tennessee General Assembly. You can reach Adelia at adelia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
