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The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –
A bill that increases the penalty for child abusers will be heard in the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee on Wednesday, February 26th, 2025.
Sponsored by Representative Jake McCalmon (R-Franklin-District 63), House Bill 0045 (HB0045) would make the intentional infliction of injury to a child between the ages of nine and seventeen a Class E felony. Anyone found guilty of abusing children over the age of eight in Tennessee is currently only charged with a Class A misdemeanor under state law.
The bill is being carried in the Senate by Senator Jack Johnson (R-Franklin-District 27).
According to the most recent State of the Child’s report, Tennessee received nearly 4,000 reports for first-time child abuse victims in 2021. While that number was the fourth lowest across the country, once recurring child abuse victims were factored in, Tennessee ranked 15th for having the most abuse victims in the United States.
Last year, the General Assembly addressed a different aspect of child endangerment and neglect by passing a law that significantly increased penalties for individuals who indirectly cause harm or death to children eight-years-old and younger.
The new law raised the penalty from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class D felony if the parent or guardian knowingly exposes the child to abuse or neglect that results in physical injury or imminent danger.
Contact information for the members of the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee can be found below.
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
