Bill > HB1656

This bill, effective July 1, 2026, increases the penalties for assaulting certain individuals who respond to emergencies in Tennessee. Specifically, it elevates the crime of assault against a law enforcement officer or a first responder (which includes firefighters and emergency medical personnel) from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony, meaning it becomes a more serious offense with harsher consequences. Under the new law, such an assault will carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 60 days in jail and a mandatory fine of $10,000, with no possibility of early release until the full 60 days are served. The bill also clarifies that assault against a nurse remains a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 days incarceration and a mandatory fine of $5,000.