In the General Assembly, we prioritize legislation to protect the rights of Tennesseans. This includes protecting property rights as well as the freedom to safely move about our communities by strengthening public safety. This month’s review of legislation passed during the 2024 legislative session includes laws penalizing squatters, denying bail for violent offenders, protecting police officers, and punishing false reporting of an active shooter.
Protecting property owners from squatters
Tennessee lawmakers passed legislation in 2024 to protect Tennessee homeowners from squatters by establishing a clear and expedited removal process. Squatting is the illegal practice of occupying a property without the owner’s lawful permission. The new legislation removes the burden from legitimate property owners by establishing a clear process for law enforcement to restore possession, which can expedite the removal of illegal occupants to as little as 72 hours. The legislation also clarifies that the sheriff may arrest the trespassers.
Under previous law, it could take up to two years to remove an illegal squatter and cost a property owner thousands of dollars in legal fees, lost revenue, and property repairs. Although squatters have no rights in Tennessee, under previous law a property owner had to initiate a judicial eviction of the squatters.
Denying bail for violent crimes
This year, the General Assembly passed a resolution proposing to amend the state constitution to expand judges’ ability to deny bail for certain violent crimes when it is in the best interest of public safety. Current law limits judges’ ability to deny bail to first-degree murder charges.
If ratified by voters, the measure would add the following criminal charges that can be denied bail: Violent offenses of terrorism, second-degree murder, aggravated rape, grave torture. It also would allow judges to deny bail for violent offenses that would require the defendant, if convicted, to serve at least 85 percent of their entire sentence under the state’s Truth in Sentencing law.
Under the measure judges could only deny bail when the proof is evident or the presumption of guilt is great. The reasoning for denying bail must also be put into the record. In the 2024 legislation session, this constitutional amendment passed its first of two required passages by the General Assembly.
Back the Blue Act
A new law that I proudly signed on to co-sponsor increases the penalties for assaulting a police officer from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony. The law also increases the mandatory minimum sentence from 30 days to 60 days and the fine from $5,000 to $10,000.
Penalizing false reports of active shooter
Lawmakers also passed a new law I proposed this year to increase protections against the intentional false reporting of emergencies in Tennessee, often referred to as “swatting.” The law makes it a Class C felony to knowingly make a false report of an active shooter and hostage situation in order to draw a large law enforcement response to a specific location. This legislation expands on previous state law which imposed a Class C felony for intentionally making a false report regarding a past, present or future bombing or fire.
It is an honor to serve as your state senator. Next month, I look forward to sharing more with you about news and updates in the General Assembly. In the meantime, please continue to reach out to my office on issues of interest and importance at 615-741-1946 or sen.adam.lowe@capitol.tn.gov.
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