The Tennessee Legislature passed a bill targeting people or groups that hire protesters.
Senate President Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge) and House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) signed off on the bill this week after both chambers passed Senate Bill (SB) 2222.
The bill proposal will now be sent to Governor Bill Lee’s desk.
SB 2222, sponsored by State Senator Jack Johnson (R-Franklin), says that people or groups who pay others to participate in protests can be held liable for damages caused by the hired protesters.
“This legislation draws a clear line between free speech and coordinated, paid disruption that damages property, threatens public safety and burdens taxpayers,” Johnson said. “If someone is financing unlawful activity for political or ideological gain, they should be held responsible for the consequences.”
“Peaceful protest is a fundamental constitutional right, and nothing in this legislation changes that. This bill is about protecting communities, giving victims a path to be compensated for damages, and upholding the rule of law in Tennessee,” he said.
For these people or groups to be held liable for pay-to-hire protesters, the protesters’ actions must meet the legal definition of a crime, including riot or aggravated riot, disorderly conduct, desecration of a venerated object, civil disorder, or obstructing a highway or passageway.
The bill proposal also allows people to take legal action against those who hire protesters.
To win a lawsuit under SB 2222, the plaintiff will need to show the defendant paid someone to participate in a protest, a paid demonstrator committed a crime, and how the plaintiff suffered a measurable loss from the situation.
A demonstrator does not need to be convicted of a crime to be legally liable in a lawsuit.
SB 2222 allows the state attorney general to take legal action against groups or people who paid protesters.
If this bill proposal becomes law, it will take effect immediately.
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Zachery Schmidt is the digital editor of The Star News Network. Email tips to Zachery at zschmidt1717@gmail.com.
Photo “Violent Protesters” by Lorie Shaull. CC BY 2.0.
