House Bill 2317, also known as the "Tennessee Anti-Grooming Act," aims to enhance the protection of minors and mentally compromised individuals from sexual exploitation by criminalizing grooming behaviors. The bill introduces a new section to the Tennessee Code Annotated, defining grooming as actions or communications by an adult intended to establish trust or emotional connection with a minor or mentally compromised individual for the purpose of sexual exploitation. The bill outlines specific definitions, including "electronic communication," "minor," and "mentally compromised individual," and establishes various felony classifications for violations based on the age of the victim and the offender's prior convictions.

Additionally, the bill amends existing law to include provisions for prosecution related to grooming offenses, regardless of whether the conduct originates within or outside the state. It specifies that a violation of the grooming statute is a Class E felony, escalating to higher felony classes based on the victim's age, the offender's prior convictions, or if the offender holds a position of trust over the victim. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, and is designed to complement existing child protection laws without superseding them.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 39-13-524(a), 39-13-524