House Bill 578, sponsored by Doggett, amends Tennessee Code Annotated, specifically Section 39-17-1324, to redefine the term "dangerous felony." The bill deletes the existing subdivision (i)(1) and replaces it with a comprehensive list of offenses that qualify as dangerous felonies, including various forms of murder, kidnapping, trafficking, robbery, sexual offenses, aggravated burglary, and drug-related felonies. This redefinition aims to clarify the scope of what constitutes a dangerous felony under Tennessee law.

Additionally, the bill designates subsection (d) as subdivision (d)(1) and introduces a new subdivision (d)(2), which states that a lesser included offense of a predicate dangerous felony is implicitly included in the indictment if it is also classified as a dangerous felony. This change is intended to streamline legal proceedings involving dangerous felonies. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, contingent upon public welfare considerations.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 39-17-1324