House Bill 2309 amends Tennessee law to enhance penalties for offenses committed at houses of worship. Specifically, it introduces a new provision that mandates a court to impose a fine of at least double the total amount of property damage or loss incurred by the house of worship, in addition to any other sentence for violations of certain offenses. This provision is added to Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-14-408(c)(1).

Furthermore, the bill revises Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-17-306, by redefining offenses related to the interference with religious freedom and property damage at houses of worship. It establishes that intentionally injuring, intimidating, or obstructing individuals exercising their right to religious freedom is a Class A misdemeanor, while damaging or destroying property is classified as a Class E felony for first offenses and a Class C felony for subsequent offenses. The bill also allows aggrieved parties to pursue civil actions for damages and empowers the attorney general to seek civil penalties for violations, with specified amounts based on the nature of the offense. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 39-14-408(c)(1), 39-14-408
Amended with SA0633 -- 03/23/2026: 39-14-408(c)(1), 39-14-408, 39-17-306