Bill > HB2279

This bill, known as the "Crush Transnational Repression in Tennessee Act," aims to protect Tennessee residents from foreign governments or terrorist organizations attempting to control or harass them outside of their own borders. It enhances criminal penalties for offenses committed by agents of foreign adversaries or foreign terrorist organizations when those actions are intended to coerce individuals, prevent them from exercising their rights like free speech or religion, or retaliate against them for such actions, provided these acts are not protected by the U.S. Constitution. The bill also declares any state court, arbitration, tribunal, or administrative agency ruling, or any contract, based on foreign law that infringes upon constitutional rights in Tennessee or the U.S., to be void and unenforceable within the state. Furthermore, it creates new offenses for intentionally interfering with the investigation or prosecution of crimes under foreign law without state or federal approval, with penalties varying based on whether the individual is acting as an agent of a foreign adversary or terrorist organization. Finally, state agencies will be required to incorporate information on transnational repression into their policies and procedures and establish a way for individuals to report such incidents directly to the agency.