TennesseeTennessee law sets penalties and lawsuits for worship-site offenses
Starting July 1, 2026, courts must impose certain added fines, while people harmed by covered conduct at houses of worship may face criminal cases or seek civil remedies.
What it does
For a covered property damage offense at a house of worship, the court must add a fine of at least twice the damage or loss, or the cleaning and restoration costs.
The law treats certain intentional interference with religious freedom at a house of worship, and intentional damage to its property, as felonies. Repeat offenses carry a higher felony class.
People harmed by covered interference or property damage, and the house of worship's owner or operator, may sue. The attorney general may bring a separate case if the office determines people were injured.
Argument forPeople harmed by interference with religious freedom or damage to worship-site property could seek court orders or money through a civil case.
Argument againstPeople accused of covered offenses could face felony charges, added fines, and civil damages or legal costs, including for repeat offenses.
More detail
A court must add a fine of at least twice the amount of property damage or loss, or cleaning and restoration costs. This applies when an offense under the referenced property damage law occurs at a house of worship. The fine is added to any other sentence for the offense. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.
A person commits an offense by intentionally using force, threats, or physical obstruction to interfere with someone exercising or seeking to exercise religious freedom at a house of worship, or by intentionally damaging or trying to damage its property. The religious freedom provision covers a person lawfully exercising or seeking to exercise that right at a house of worship. A first offense under these provisions is a Class E felony; a second or later offense is a Class C felony. Interference means blocking a person's movement. Intimidation means causing reasonable fear of bodily injury. Physical obstruction means blocking entry or exit, or making passage unreasonably difficult or hazardous. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.
Aggrieved people and the entity that owns or operates the house of worship may sue; the attorney general may also bring a case if the office determines people were injured by covered conduct. A private suit may be brought by a person exercising or seeking to exercise religious freedom at the house of worship where the offense occurred, or by the entity that owns or operates it. A court may award an order to stop the conduct, damages, and reasonable legal costs and attorney's fees. Statutory damages may be $5,000 per violation. The attorney general may seek an order and a civil penalty of up to $10,000 for a first offense without force or threat of force, or up to $15,000 for a first offense involving force or threat, or a later offense. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 27Pub. Ch. 1140Latest
- 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 30Enrolled and ready for signaturesMinor
- Apr 30Signed by Senate SpeakerMajor
- Apr 22Subst. for comp. HB.Major
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR MOTION TO CONSIDER AMENDMENT # 2 BY SALINAS PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/22/2026 Failed. Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/22/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 22Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA0772)Minor
- Apr 22Passed H., Ayes 93, Nays 0, PNV 1Passed House
- Mar 26Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.
- Mar 23Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0633)
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: as Amended Third Consideration 3/23/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 23Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 29, Nays 0, PNV 1Passed Senate
- Mar 23Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Mar 23Engrossed; ready for transmission to HouseMinor
- Mar 20Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 3/23/2026
- Mar 16Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Mar 10Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 8, Nays 0 PNV 1
- Vote recorded SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 8, Nays 0 PNV 1 3/10/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 9Action deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 3/10/2026
- Mar 9Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/10/2026
- Mar 4Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/9/2026
- Mar 3Action deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 3/10/2026
- Feb 25Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/3/2026
- Feb 5Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary CommitteeMinor
- Feb 2Filed for introductionMinor
- Feb 2Introduced, Passed on First ConsiderationIntroduced
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