House Bill 540, sponsored by Crawford, seeks to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, specifically Section 39-12-203, by adding a new subdivision that classifies animal fighting as a form of racketeering activity. The new subdivision, designated as (RRR), explicitly identifies animal fighting under the existing law 39-14-203 as a criminal offense related to racketeering.

The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, emphasizing the importance of addressing animal fighting within the context of organized crime and racketeering laws in Tennessee. This legislative change aims to strengthen the legal framework surrounding animal welfare and combat illegal activities associated with animal fighting.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 39-12-203(10), 39-12-203