TennesseeTennessee law treats deliberate livestock starvation deaths as aggravated cruelty
With legal exceptions, Tennessee treats intentionally starving livestock to death in a depraved and sadistic manner as aggravated cruelty when there is no justifiable or lawful purpose.
What it does
Intentionally starving livestock to death counts as aggravated cruelty when done in a depraved and sadistic manner without a justifiable or lawful purpose. Legal exceptions apply.
Argument forTreating intentional, sadistic starvation deaths as aggravated cruelty could help hold people accountable for extreme livestock abuse.
Argument againstThe requirements for intent and sadistic cruelty could leave some fatal livestock neglect outside this offense.
More detail
Tennessee law treats intentionally starving livestock to death as aggravated cruelty when the required conditions are met. The starvation provision covers people who intentionally cause a livestock animal to starve to death. The person must act in a depraved and sadistic manner—a deeply cruel way that takes pleasure in suffering. The starvation must have no justifiable or lawful purpose. Exceptions in subsections (d) and (e) apply, but those sections are not included. The law 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. 974Latest
- 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
- Apr 2Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.
- Mar 30Passed Senate, Ayes 32, Nays 0Passed Senate
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: Third Consideration 3/30/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 30Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Mar 30Engrossed; ready for transmission to HouseMinor
- Mar 27Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 3/30/2026
- Mar 17Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee
- Vote recorded SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee 3/17/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 16Action deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 3/17/2026
- Mar 16Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/17/2026
- Mar 11Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/16/2026
- Feb 17Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Feb 5Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary CommitteeMinor
- Feb 2Introduced, Passed on First ConsiderationMinor
- Jan 23Filed for introductionIntroduced
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