Bill > HB1731

This bill amends Tennessee law to clarify what constitutes "desecration" of a venerated object, specifically in the context of burial places. The key change is that "desecrate" will now explicitly include the act of removing objects from a burial site by anyone who is not a family member of the deceased, an authorized cemetery representative, an employee of the state's division of archaeology performing their official duties related to historical sites, or someone otherwise legally permitted to remove such items. This aims to provide clearer legal definitions and protections for burial sites and the objects within them, with the new provision taking effect on July 1, 2026.