Tennessee Lawmakers Pass Bill to Prevent Felony Charges for Non-Credible School Threats

Tennessee lawmakers this week passed legislation to address concerns over the state’s threats of mass violence law, which had led to children—including those with disabilities and students of color—being charged with felonies for jokes or misunderstandings. Governor Bill Lee is expected to sign the bill into law.

The new law mandates that school officials may only report student threats to police if the threat is deemed credible, meaning it is reasonably expected to be carried out. Previously, administrators who failed to report any threat of mass violence could face misdemeanor charges.

The legislative change follows pressure from advocates and an investigation by ProPublica and WPLN. Among the cases highlighted was that of a 6-year-old child charged with a felony last year. In another instance, an autistic teenager with an intellectual disability told his teacher his backpack would explode if touched. Police found only a stuffed bunny inside but arrested and charged him with making a threat of mass violence. The child’s mother is now suing the school district; the case remains ongoing.

Settlements and Ongoing Legal Battles

Another family secured a $100,000 settlement against a Chattanooga public charter school after their 11-year-old autistic child was wrongly reported to police. Separately, multiple parents filed a lawsuit against Williamson County Schools, near Nashville, alleging their children were wrongly suspended and arrested for alleged threats. The school board contested the claims in court but a judge ruled the families had a “plausible claim,” allowing the case to proceed.

Senator Haile’s Shift on the Issue

Senator Ferrell Haile, a co-author of the bill, emphasized its importance during a late March committee hearing. He cited the case of a fifth grader in his district with a disability who made a statement out of frustration. Despite the school police officer’s reluctance to arrest the child, the law required it—regardless of whether the threat was credible. The child was ultimately charged with a felony.

“In some counties, it has become a standard practice to charge every threat even if it has been deemed not credible.” — Sen. Ferrell Haile

Haile’s support for the bill marks a shift from his prior position and that of most Tennessee Republicans, who had previously opposed similar measures as recently as last winter. Notably, in 2025, Haile had proposed a bill that would have extended felony charges for threats, underscoring the evolution in his stance.