House Bill 2309 amends Tennessee Code Annotated, specifically Section 39-14-408(c)(1), to introduce a new provision regarding offenses that occur at houses of worship. The bill mandates that, in addition to any other penalties imposed for such offenses, the court must impose a fine that is at least double the total amount of property damage, loss, or cleaning and restoration expenses incurred by the house of worship as a result of the offense. This provision is added notwithstanding the existing sentencing guidelines outlined in Section 40-35-111.

The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, emphasizing the importance of protecting houses of worship from criminal conduct and ensuring that offenders are held financially accountable for the damages caused.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 39-14-408(c)(1), 39-14-408