TennesseeSex offenders must disclose their status before overnight campground stays
Tennessee requires people still covered by its sex offender rules to tell campground owners or operators their offender status before staying overnight.
What it does
Sex offenders still required to follow Tennessee's offender rules must disclose their status to campground owners or operators before overnight stays. Knowingly staying without that notice is a criminal offense.
Argument forAdvance notice could help campground owners and operators make informed decisions about people planning to stay overnight.
Argument againstPeople who knowingly skip notice could face criminal punishment even when their overnight stay involves no other misconduct.
More detail
Covered offenders must tell the campground owner or operator their offender status before beginning an overnight stay. The requirement covers sexual offenders and violent sexual offenders while they must follow Tennessee's sex offender rules. It applies to any campground. Knowingly staying overnight without giving the required notice is a criminal offense. Punishment follows the rules referenced in subsections (f) and (g). The notice requirement and offense took 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 18Pub. Ch. 972Latest
- May 18Effective date(s) 07/01/2026
- May 13Signed by Governor Bill Lee.Became Law
- May 5Transmitted to Governor for action.To Governor
- May 1Signed by H. SpeakerMajor
- Apr 23Signed by Senate SpeakerMajor
- Apr 23Enrolled and ready for signaturesMinor
- Apr 20Subst. for comp. HB.Major
- Apr 20Passed H., Ayes 96, Nays 0, PNV 0Passed House
- Mar 19Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.
- Mar 16Passed Senate, Ayes 32, Nays 0Passed Senate
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: Motion to Adopt 3/16/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 16Engrossed; ready for transmission to HouseMinor
- Mar 16Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Mar 13Placed on Senate Consent Calendar 2 for 3/16/2026
- Mar 10Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee
- Vote recorded SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee 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
- Feb 5Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary CommitteeMinor
- Feb 2Introduced, Passed on First ConsiderationMinor
- Jan 22Filed for introductionIntroduced
Criminal JusticePublic Safety