House Bill 1525, also known as Senate Bill 1633, amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 40, to establish new sentencing guidelines for defendants convicted of multiple offenses involving minor victims. The bill introduces a new subsection (e) to Section 40-35-115, which mandates that if a defendant is convicted of two or more offenses involving more than one minor victim, the court is required to order the sentences to run consecutively. However, the court may deviate from this requirement if it finds, by a preponderance of the evidence, that consecutive sentences are not warranted based on the specifics of the case and that doing so would not serve the best interest of justice.

The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, and will apply to offenses committed on or after that date. This legislation aims to enhance the protection of minor victims by ensuring that offenders face more stringent sentencing when multiple victims are involved.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 40-35-115