SB 2468

Present law provides that a person commits the offense of vandalism who knowingly causes damage to, or the destruction of, any real or personal property of another or of the state, the United States, a county, a city, or a town knowing that the person do es not have the owner's effective consent. In addition to any sentence imposed for the offense, the court must include an order of restitution for any property damage or loss or cleaning and restoration expenses incurred as a result of the offense. This bill requires, in addition to any sentence imposed for such a violation, if the offense occurred at a house of worship, the court to also include as part of the sentence a fine of no less than two times the total amount of any property damage or los s or cleaning and restoration expenses incurred by the house of worship as a result of the offense. ON MARCH 23, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 2468, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 makes the following revisions:  Provides it is a Class E felony offense when a person at a house of worship, by force, threat of force, or physical obstruction to ingress or egress to or from a house of worship, intentionally injures, intimidates, or interferes with a person's freedom of movement , or attempts to injure, intimidate where the person has a reasonable apprehension of bodily injury to the mselves or another , or interfere with another lawfully exercising or seeking to exercise the right of religious freedom under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution or Article I, § 3 of the Tennessee Constitution. A Class E felony is punishable by one to six year s in prison and the possibility of a fine up to $3,000.  Provides it is a Class E felony offense when a person intentionally damages or destroys or attempts to damage or destroy the property of a house of worship.  Provides that a second or subsequent offense of either of the Class E felonies described in the prior two bullet points is a Class C felony , punishable by three to 15 years in prison and a possibility of a fine up to $10,000.  Authorizes a person who was lawfully exercising or seeking to exercise the person's right of religious freedom at a house of worship at which the offense occurred to commence a civil action .  Authorizes the entity that owns or operates the house of worship at which the offense occurred to commence a civil action .  Authorizes the court to award the appropriate relief, including i njunctive relief; c ompensatory damages or statutory damages of $5,000 per violation; p unitive damages; and r easonable costs of bringing the action and attorney's fees.  If the attorney general determines that a person or group of persons has been injured by conduct constituting a violation of either Class E felony offense listed above, then this amendment authorizes the attorney general to commence a civil action seeking injunctive relief and a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed $10,000 for a first violation that did not involve the use of or threat to use force; $15,000 for a first violation involving the use of or threat to use force; or $15,000 for a second or subsequent violation.