TennesseeTennessee law assigns felony penalties to certain prostitution customers
Tennessee law assigns felony penalties to prostitution customers in cases involving children, people with intellectual disabilities, or adult police officers posing as minors.
What it does
Patronizing prostitution involving someone under 18 is a Class A felony. Cases involving a person with an intellectual disability or an adult officer posing as a minor are Class B felonies.
Patronizing prostitution within 1.5 miles of a school carries at least seven days in jail and a fine of at least $1,000, in addition to other authorized punishment.
Argument forFelony penalties could discourage prostitution customers from targeting children or people with intellectual disabilities.
Argument againstCustomers dealing with adult officers posing as minors could face serious felony penalties even when no actual child is involved.
More detail
The law treats these cases as felonies, meaning serious crimes, with Class A or Class B penalties. The felony categories cover cases involving someone under 18, someone with an intellectual disability, or an adult law enforcement officer posing as a minor. The officer posing as a minor must be at least 18 years old. Cases involving a law enforcement officer who is not posing as a minor carry a Class A misdemeanor penalty. Prosecution under other applicable laws remains allowed. The law took effect July 1, 2026.
Customers who patronize prostitution near a school face minimum jail time and a minimum fine. The rule covers patronizing prostitution within 1.5 miles of a school. These penalties apply in addition to any other authorized punishment. The law took effect 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 18Pub. Ch. 959Latest
- May 18Effective date(s) 07/01/2026
- May 7Signed by Governor Bill Lee.Became Law
- May 6Transmitted to Governor for his action.To Governor
- May 5Signed by Senate SpeakerMajor
- Apr 30Signed by H. SpeakerMajor
- Apr 28Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.Minor
- Apr 22Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.Major
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: Third Consideration 4/22/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 22Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - SA0928)
- Apr 22Passed Senate, Ayes 31, Nays 0Passed Senate
- Apr 15Received from House, Passed on First ConsiderationMinor
- Apr 14H. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA0989)Major
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/14/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 14Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Apr 14Passed H., as am., Ayes 96, Nays 0, PNV 0Passed House
- Apr 14Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.Minor
- Apr 13
- Vote recorded HOUSE CALENDAR & RULES COMMITTEE: H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/13/2026 4/9/2026. Result: fail.Lower
- Apr 9H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/13/2026
- Apr 8Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/9/2026
- Apr 1Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules CommitteeMinor
- Vote recorded HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee 4/1/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- 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 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 4Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/11/2026
- Feb 3Sponsor change.Minor
- Feb 3Sponsor(s) withdrawn.Minor
- Feb 2P2C, ref. to Judiciary CommitteeMinor
- Feb 2Assigned to s/c Criminal Justice SubcommitteeMinor
- Jan 22Intro., P1C.Minor
- Jan 21Filed for introductionIntroduced
Criminal Justice