House Bill 856 amends various sections of the Tennessee Code Annotated related to the use of force, particularly concerning the justification for using deadly force. The bill introduces a new definition of "deadly force," clarifying that it refers to force intended to cause death or substantial risk of death, excluding the mere display or brandishing of a weapon. Additionally, it modifies the criteria under which a person can justify the use of deadly force, emphasizing the necessity of such force to prevent or terminate specific crimes, including property crimes and serious harm to animals.

The bill also updates references to self-defense laws by including protection of property statutes, thereby broadening the legal framework for justifying the use of force. It removes certain existing language regarding the risk of causing death or serious bodily harm and replaces it with a more specific standard concerning the probability of causing substantial risk of death or extreme physical pain. Overall, these changes aim to clarify and expand the legal justifications for the use of force in Tennessee.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 39-11-614, 39-11-621, 39-11-602, 39-11-106(a), 39-11-106, 39-11-616(a)(1), 39-11-616