House Bill 1454 aims to amend Tennessee's sentencing laws related to serious criminal offenses, particularly focusing on sexual crimes against minors. The bill introduces several new aggravating factors that can lead to harsher sentences for defendants convicted of crimes such as aggravated rape of a child and incest. These new factors include committing the offense against a victim under four years of age, being in a position of trust over the victim, having prior convictions for sexual offenses, and using a deadly weapon during the crime, among others. Additionally, the bill specifies that the victim's consent or participation in the defendant's conduct cannot be considered a mitigating factor in cases of rape of a child or aggravated rape of a child.

Furthermore, the bill modifies existing legal language by removing a provision that allowed for the victim's consent to be a mitigating factor in certain circumstances. It also updates the language regarding the conviction of first-degree murder to include rape of a child as a relevant offense. The changes are set to take effect on July 1, 2026, and will apply to offenses occurring on or after that date.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 39-13-204(i), 39-13-204, 39-13-207(a)(1), 39-13-207