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HB 540

Criminal Offenses - As enacted, expands the definition of "racketeering activity" to include committing, conspiring to commit, aiding, attempting to aid, soliciting, coercing, facilitating, or intimidating another person to commit the criminal offense of animal fighting. - Amends TCA Title 39.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by John Crawford

Tennessee law now classifies animal fighting activities as racketeering offenses, enabling organized crime prosecution with enhanced penalties against fighting networks.

Comp. became Pub. Ch. 264
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Bill Summary · HB 540

Legislative bill overview

HB 540 expands Tennessee's racketeering law (RICO statutes) to classify animal fighting activities as racketeering offenses. This means that organizing, participating in, or facilitating animal fighting operations can now be prosecuted as organized crime, with enhanced penalties available.

Why is this important

Animal fighting is already illegal in Tennessee, but treating it as racketeering allows prosecutors to pursue more serious charges, longer sentences, and asset forfeiture against networks of participants rather than just individual offenders. This approach targets organized animal fighting rings as criminal enterprises rather than isolated incidents.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope expansion: Racketeering charges carry significantly harsher penalties than standard animal cruelty charges; critics may question whether all animal fighting conduct warrants "organized crime" treatment
  • Prosecutorial discretion: Broadening racketeering definitions can increase prosecutorial power to charge marginal participants with serious felonies
  • Constitutional concerns: Some may argue that applying RICO to animal fighting stretches the statute's original intent, raising questions about criminal law scope and fair notice

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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