Tennessee Bill Expanding the Offense of Indecent Exposure (HB 1151)

HB 1151 would redefine “public place” for purposes of the offense of indecent exposure.

Current law defines “public place” to mean a place to which the public or a group of persons has access and includes, but is not limited to, highways, transportation facilities, schools, places of amusement, parks, places of business, playgrounds and hallways, lobbies and other portions of apartment houses and hotels not constituting rooms or apartments designed for actual residence.

This bill would redefine “public place” for the purposes of the offense, to mean:

[…]a place to which the public or a group of persons has access and includes, but is not limited to, highways, transportation facilities, schools, places of amusement, parks, places of business, playgrounds and hallways, lobbies, and other portions of apartment houses and hotels not constituting rooms or apartments designed for actual residence, and a restroom, locker room, dressing room, or shower, designated for multi-person, single-sex use.

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Below is the original version of HB 1151.

As introduced, the bill would expand the definition of “indecent exposure” to include incidents occurring in a restroom, locker room, dressing room, or shower, designated for single-sex, multi-person use, if the offender is a member of the opposite sex than the sex designated for use.

The bill would prohibit any medical, psychiatric, or psychological diagnosis of gender dysphoria, gender confusion, or similar conditions, from serving as a defense to the offense of indecent exposure.

If passed, transgender individuals would be at risk of conviction for using public accommodations that conform to their gender identity.

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Related Legislation

Companion bill to SB 1297.

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Latest Action

2/6/19 – Introduced.

4/8/19 – Amended; passed the House in a 69-25 vote.

4/30/19 – Passed the Senate in a 21-5 vote.

5/2/19 – Signed into law by Republican Gov. Bill Lee.

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People