TennesseeTennessee law makes intentional disturbance of survey markers a misdemeanor
People who intentionally move, alter, destroy, or remove certain survey markers can face a Class A misdemeanor if they know, or reasonably should know, what the markers are.
What it does
Intentionally disturbing a covered survey or boundary marker can bring a Class A misdemeanor charge. Transportation department workers and contractors are exempt while doing their official duties.
Argument forThe law may help protect property and boundary markers by penalizing people who intentionally disturb them.
Argument againstPeople could face a misdemeanor even if they did not know a marker was protected, if they reasonably should have known.
More detail
A person commits a Class A misdemeanor by intentionally moving a covered monument without replacing it, altering it, destroying it, or removing it. Covered monuments include marked survey control points, government markers for state, county, or city boundaries, and property corner markers established by a licensed surveyor and described in a county-recorded document. The person must know, or reasonably should know, that the monument is covered. The rule does not apply to a Tennessee Department of Transportation employee or contractor acting in official duties. The law took effect July 1, 2026.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 27Pub. Ch. 1097Latest
- May 27Effective date(s) 07/01/2026
- May 22Signed by Governor Bill Lee.Became Law
- May 11Transmitted to Governor for action.To Governor
- May 7Signed by H. SpeakerMajor
- Apr 30Signed by Senate SpeakerMajor
- Apr 29Enrolled and ready for signaturesMinor
- Apr 21Subst. for comp. HB.Major
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/21/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 21Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA0571)Minor
- Apr 21Passed H., Ayes 91, Nays 0, PNV 2Passed House
- Mar 12Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.
- Mar 9Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0562)
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: as Amended Third Consideration 3/9/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 9Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 32, Nays 0Passed Senate
- Mar 9Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Mar 9Engrossed; ready for transmission to HouseMinor
- Mar 6Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 3/9/2026
- Mar 3Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 9, Nays 0 PNV 0
- Vote recorded SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 9, Nays 0 PNV 0 3/3/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 25Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/3/2026
- Jan 22Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary CommitteeMinor
- Jan 21Introduced, Passed on First ConsiderationMinor
- Jan 20Filed for introductionIntroduced
Criminal Justice