Bill > HB0468

This bill modifies Tennessee's reckless endangerment law by changing the criminal penalties for discharging a firearm into a motor vehicle. Specifically, the legislation increases the severity of the offense based on whether the vehicle is occupied or not: if a firearm is discharged into an occupied motor vehicle, it will now be classified as a Class C felony (a more serious charge), and if the vehicle is unoccupied, it will be a Class D felony. Previously, such offenses were classified as a Class E felony regardless of vehicle occupancy. The change reflects a legislative intent to impose stricter penalties when the risk to human life is potentially higher, such as when people are present in the vehicle. The bill will take effect on July 1, 2025, giving legal systems and law enforcement time to prepare for the new classification of this criminal offense.