Bill > SB1941

This bill, effective July 1, 2026, increases the penalties for assaulting certain individuals in Tennessee, specifically targeting those who respond to emergency calls. Previously, assaulting a law enforcement officer or a first responder (which includes firefighters and emergency medical personnel) was a Class A misdemeanor, carrying a minimum 30-day jail sentence and a $5,000 fine; this bill elevates such an offense to a Class E felony, mandating a minimum 60-day jail sentence and a $10,000 fine, with no possibility of early release from that minimum sentence. However, the bill also clarifies that assaulting a nurse remains a Class A misdemeanor with the original penalties of a mandatory 30-day sentence and a $5,000 fine.