Bill > HB1295

This bill introduces the "Shielding Tennesseans from Oligarchic Power and Eliminating Lawless Obstruction of Necessities Act" (STOP ELON Act), which creates a new criminal offense of intentionally interfering with an individual's or entity's lawful receipt of government-provided financial assistance, such as loans, grants, or other forms of financial support. Under this legislation, if someone deliberately attempts to prevent another person or organization from receiving funds they are legally entitled to receive from federal, state, or local government sources, they can be charged with theft. The severity of the theft charge will be determined by the total monetary value of the funds involved, with multiple criminal acts potentially being aggregated to establish the value. Additionally, the bill allows victims of such interference to pursue a civil action to recover the funds they were prevented from receiving. The law is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and appears to be designed to protect individuals and organizations from deliberate attempts to obstruct their access to legitimate financial assistance.

Justice

https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/default.aspx?BillNumber=HB1295&ga=114