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HB 2317

Sexual Offenses - As introduced, enacts the "Tennessee Anti-Grooming Act," which creates the criminal offense of grooming a minor or mentally compromised individual. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 40.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Jody Barrett

Tennessee bill criminalizes grooming of minors and mentally compromised individuals by amending state criminal code, though specific conduct definitions and penalties remain unspecified.

Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.
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Bill Summary · HB 2317

Legislative bill overview

HB 2317 creates a new criminal offense in Tennessee law specifically targeting "grooming" of minors or mentally compromised individuals. The bill amends Tennessee's criminal code (Title 39) and criminal procedure code (Title 40) to establish penalties for this conduct, though the bill text does not specify what actions constitute grooming or what penalties apply.

Why is this important

Grooming—the process of building trust with a vulnerable person to facilitate abuse—is a serious concern in child protection. Currently, Tennessee prosecutes grooming-related conduct under general statutes (enticement, solicitation, etc.), so a dedicated statute would create explicit legal language, potentially making prosecution clearer and ensuring consistent sentencing. This could strengthen protections for minors and vulnerable adults.

Potential points of contention

  • Definition clarity: The bill summary doesn't specify what conduct constitutes "grooming," creating uncertainty about where legal lines fall and risk of overly broad application to innocent mentoring or communication
  • Age of victim and intent standards: Unclear whether the law applies to all ages under 18, or specific age ranges, and what mental state ("intent," "knowledge," "recklessness") prosecutors must prove
  • Overlap with existing laws: May duplicate existing Tennessee statutes on enticement, solicitation, and child exploitation, creating redundancy or conflicting sentencing guidelines
  • Free speech concerns: Depending on definition, could potentially affect legitimate educational speech, counseling, or online communication if language isn't precisely tailored

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

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