House committee advances bill creating new theft offense for fraudulent freight schemes

The Tennessee House Judiciary Committee voted to move House Bill 21‑39 as amended to the Government Operations Committee after the sponsor described the measure as an effort to address a rising wave of cargo theft that affects both trucking and rail shipments.

Sponsor Speaker Marsh said the proposal creates a statutory definition of “fraudulent freight theft,” covering schemes that obtain or divert freight through deception, impersonation, misrepresentation or identity fraud. Marsh told the committee the change will treat those schemes as theft under Tennessee law and create a clearer reporting path so property owners and insurers can file claims more quickly.

“The main thing it does is allow for reports to be easily done in Tennessee when theft does occur,” the sponsor said, explaining examples of rail cars opened in transit and freight missing by the time a shipment passes through Tennessee. Committee records show members adopted amendment 014873 prior to the final vote.

The clerk announced the committee tally as 17 ayes, 0 nos. With the vote, the bill advances to Government Operations as amended. The committee record does not show additional substantive policy conditions attached to the forward referral.

The committee considered many bills in a single session; HB 21‑39 was one of the first items taken up and was decided unanimously. The committee did not take comment from outside witnesses on this measure during the recorded discussion.