House Bill 2140, also known as Senate Bill 2265, amends various sections of the Tennessee Code Annotated related to criminal offenses involving theft. A significant change includes the introduction of a mandatory minimum sentence of thirty days of incarceration for defendants who use or possess a firearm, firearm ammunition, a firearm-related device, or an anti-theft device during the commission of a theft offense. Additionally, the bill modifies the penalty for certain theft offenses by increasing the minimum sentence from ninety days to one-hundred-eighty days. New provisions are also added to define the use of masks or facial coverings and the use of vehicles with improper license plates as aggravating factors in theft offenses.

Furthermore, the bill establishes a registry within the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for individuals convicted of specific theft-related offenses. This registry will include personal information such as names, dates of birth, and details of the offenses, and will be accessible only to law enforcement agencies. The bill outlines the process for maintaining and updating the registry, including the removal of names after ten years or upon expunction or death. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, and will apply to offenses committed on or after that date.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 39-14-113(d), 39-14-113, 39-14-113(c)(1), 39-14-113(c)
Amended with SA0942 -- 04/15/2026: 39-14-113(d), 39-14-113, 39-14-113(c)(1), 39-14-113(c)