Senate Bill 335, also known as the "Voyeurism Victims Act," aims to strengthen the legal framework surrounding invasion of privacy offenses in Tennessee, particularly focusing on unlawful photography. The bill amends existing laws to clarify the definitions and conditions under which unlawful photography is prosecuted. Notably, it specifies that photographs taken for sexual arousal or that include unclothed intimate areas of individuals can be considered unlawful. Additionally, the bill introduces new provisions that allow for prosecution if the photograph was taken with a hidden camera or if there were multiple victims involved. It also establishes that the statute of limitations for such offenses is tolled if the defendant conceals the crime until the victim discovers it.

Furthermore, the bill expands the definition of victims eligible for protection under domestic abuse and stalking laws to include "unlawful photography victims." It modifies various sections of the Tennessee Code Annotated to incorporate unlawful photography alongside existing offenses like human trafficking and sexual assault. The changes include the addition of new language and the substitution of existing terms to ensure that unlawful photography is recognized as a serious offense deserving of legal recourse. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, emphasizing the state's commitment to protecting individuals from privacy violations.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 39-13-605(a)(1)(B), 39-13-605, 39-13-605(d)(2), 36-3-601(8), 36-3-601, 36-3-602, 36-3-602(c), 36-3-605(b), 36-3-605, 36-3-606(a), 36-3-606, 36-3-613(a), 36-3-613, 36-3-617(a), 36-3-617, 36-3-617(a)(2)(B)