TennesseeTennessee law makes certain grooming conduct toward minors a crime
Starting July 1, 2026, Tennessee law makes certain repeated acts toward minors a crime when a person intends to enable a sexual offense or involve a minor in sexual activity.
What it does
A pattern of at least two acts toward the same minor can be a crime when done with specific intent to enable a sexual offense or involve the minor in sexual activity. Age rules limit who is covered.
A person in authority or a trusted caregiving role can also be charged for grooming a minor if they are at least four years older and have the required intent.
Argument forChildren could receive legal protection before sexual contact or another offense occurs when a repeated pattern shows the required intent.
Argument againstPeople in trusted roles could face felony penalties for qualifying patterns involving physical contact or sexual content, even if no sexual offense is completed.
More detail
The law makes a qualifying pattern of grooming conduct a crime. For this offense, the minor must be under 13 and the person at least 18, or the minor must be at least 13 but under 18 and the person at least 10 years older. The pattern must include at least two acts toward the same minor that show a continuing purpose. The person must intend to commit or help another commit a sexual or violent sexual offense against the minor, or cause or induce the minor to engage in sexual activity or patently offensive simulated sexual activity. The law exempts specified lawful teaching, health care, investigations, family conversations, appropriate role-based contact, and police work. A close personal, mentoring, educational, or religious relationship alone is not evidence of grooming. The law applies to acts committed on or after July 1, 2026.
The law also makes grooming a crime when a person holds authority or special trust over the minor. The minor must be under 18, the person at least four years older, and the person in a role of authority or special trust, such as a teacher, coach, babysitter, or mentor. The person must have the specific intent described for the general offense. Penalties rise for some patterns involving physical boundary violations or sexual content, and when the minor is under 13. This provision applies to acts committed on or after July 1, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 26Pub. Ch. 1021Latest
- May 26Effective date(s) 07/01/2026
- May 19Signed by Governor Bill Lee.Became Law
- May 7Transmitted to Governor for his action.To Governor
- May 5Signed by Senate SpeakerMajor
- Apr 30Signed by H. SpeakerMajor
- Apr 29Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.Minor
- Apr 23Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.Major
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: Third Consideration 4/23/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 23Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - SA0638)
- Apr 23Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 2 - SA0914)
- Apr 23Passed Senate, Ayes 26, Nays 0, PNV 1Passed Senate
- Apr 22Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/22/2026
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR 2 AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/22/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded HOUSE CALENDAR & RULES COMMITTEE: H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/22/2026 4/22/2026. Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded HOUSE FINANCE, WAYS, AND MEANS SUBCOMMITTEE: Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee 4/22/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded HOUSE FINANCE, WAYS, AND MEANS COMMITTEE: Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee 4/22/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 22Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means CommitteeMinor
- Apr 22Placed on cal. Finance, Ways, and Means Committee for 4/22/2026
- Apr 22Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules CommitteeMinor
- Apr 22Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/22/2026
- Apr 22H. Placed on Regular Calendar 2 for 4/22/2026
- Apr 22H. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA0986)Major
- Apr 22Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Apr 22Passed H., as am., Ayes 92, Nays 0, PNV 0Passed House
- Apr 22Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.Minor
- Apr 15Taken off notice for cal in s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee of Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
- Apr 8Placed behind the budget
- Apr 8Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2026
- Apr 1Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means CommitteeMinor
- Vote recorded HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee 4/1/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 1Assigned to s/c Finance, Ways, and Means SubcommitteeMinor
- Apr 1Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/8/2026
- Mar 25Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Judiciary CommitteeMinor
- Vote recorded HOUSE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SUBCOMMITTEE: Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Judiciary Committee 3/25/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 25Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Mar 25Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 4/1/2026
- Mar 18Action Def. in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee to 3/25/2026
- Mar 18Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/25/2026
- Mar 11Action Def. in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee to 3/18/2026
- Mar 11Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/18/2026
- Mar 10Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Mar 4Action Def. in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee to 3/11/2026
- Mar 4Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/11/2026
- Feb 25Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/4/2026
- Feb 5P2C, ref. to Judiciary CommitteeMinor
- Feb 5Assigned to s/c Criminal Justice SubcommitteeMinor
- Feb 4Intro., P1C.Minor
- Feb 2Filed for introductionIntroduced
Criminal JusticePublic Safety