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TN HB1444

Bill

Status

Introduced

9/16/2025

Primary Sponsor

John Gillespie

Click for details

Origin

House of Representatives

114th General Assembly

AI Summary

  • Increases the penalty for aggravated cruelty to animals from a Class E felony to a Class D felony, which carries more severe sentencing consequences

  • Adds aggravated cruelty to animals to the list of offenses that can result in juvenile court transfer to criminal court for prosecution as an adult

  • Expands the juvenile transfer provisions to include Class D felonies alongside Class B felonies for qualifying offenses

  • Takes effect July 1, 2026, and applies only to acts committed on or after that date

Legislative Description

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 37 and Title 39, relative to cruelty to animals.

Criminal Offenses

Last Action

Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/18/2026

3/11/2026

Committee Referrals

Criminal Justice Subcommittee2/25/2026
Judiciary1/14/2026

Full Bill Text

No bill text available