House Bill 1542, also known as Senate Bill 1920, amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39, by introducing a new section that defines and penalizes telecommunication fraud. Under this new provision, a person commits telecommunication fraud if they use a telecommunication device with the intent to deprive the owner of property, thereby fraudulently obtaining or exercising control over that property without the owner's consent. This act categorizes telecommunication fraud as theft, with a minimum classification of a Class E felony.

The bill also clarifies that the term "telecommunication device" is defined as per existing law in 39-16-201. The new law is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, emphasizing the importance of addressing fraudulent activities conducted through telecommunication means.