Image Credit: TN General Assembly
Tennessee Conservative News Staff –
In a unanimous vote on Tuesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee recommended a bill that would enact the “Tennessee Anti-Grooming Act.”
Senate Bill 2566 (SB2566), sponsored by State Senator Janice Bowling (R-Tullahoma-D16), is intended to protect minors from sexual exploitation by making a criminal offense of grooming behaviors.
It also supplements existing child protection laws through the creation of a Class E Felony offense for any adult who engages in the practice of grooming a child for sexual exploitation.
If the offender holds a position of trust, authority, or supervision over the victim at the time of the offense, the classification is upgraded to a Class D felony.
If the offender has a prior conviction for sexual offense, violent or not, the offense becomes a Class C felony.
Grooming becomes a Class B felony if the victim is considered a “mentally compromised individual” and a Class A felony if the minor is under 13 years old.
Companion House Bill 2317 (HB2317), sponsored by State Representative Jody Barrett (R-Dickson-D69), is scheduled to be heard by the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee on March 25.
House Criminal Justice Subcommittee – HB2317 scheduled to be heard 3.25.26.
HB2317 enacts the “Tennessee Anti-Grooming Act,” which creates the criminal offense of grooming a minor or mentally compromised individual.
Rep.clay.doggett@capitol.tn.gov; rep.fred.atchley@capitol.tn.gov; rep.andrew.farmer@capitol.tn.gov; rep.william.lamberth@capitol.tn.gov; rep.mary.littleton@capitol.tn.gov; rep.jason.powell@capitol.tn.gov; rep.lowell.russell@capitol.tn.gov; rep.gabby.salinas@capitol.tn.gov; rep.rick.scarbrough@capitol.tn.gov
