House Bill 99 amends Tennessee Code Annotated, specifically Section 39-13-605, which pertains to unlawful photography. The bill makes several key changes, including rephrasing the language regarding the act of photographing and updating the penalties associated with violations. Notably, it increases the classification of certain offenses from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony, and from a Class E felony to a Class D felony, while also introducing a new subdivision that specifies the use of a minor under thirteen years of age in facilitating a violation. Additionally, the bill stipulates that if the victim is under thirteen or if the defendant held a position of trust over the victim, the offense is classified as a Class C felony.

Furthermore, the bill mandates that individuals convicted of unlawful photography must register as sexual offenders under the Tennessee Sexual Offender and Violent Sexual Offender Registration Act. It also establishes that any acts constituting unlawful photography committed on or after July 1, 2025, will fall under the new provisions. The changes aim to enhance the legal framework surrounding unlawful photography and provide stricter penalties to deter such offenses.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 39-13-605(a), 39-13-605, 39-13-605(c), 39-13-605(d)(1)(A), 39-13-605(d)(2), 39-13-605(d)(3), 40-39-202(20), 40-39-202