---
type: "Bill"
title: "Sentencing - As enacted, increases classification of offense of patronizing prostitution from a Class B to a Class A misdemeanor. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 13, Part 3 and Title 39, Chapter 13, Part 5."
description: "Sentencing - As enacted, increases classification of offense of patronizing prostitution from a Class B to a Class A misdemeanor. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 13, Part 3 and Title 39, Chapter 13, Part 5."
jurisdiction: "us/states/tn"
legislature: "Tennessee General Assembly"
session: "110"
identifier: "SB 551"
citation: "Tennessee SB 551 (110)"
classification: ["bill"]
subjects: ["Sentencing"]
status: "enacted"
primary_sponsors: ["Coley", "Ketron"]
version_count: 1
action_count: 37
vote_count: 3
first_action: "2017-02-07"
last_action: "2017-05-03"
source: "openstates"
source_identifier: "ocd-bill/34c8251e-c482-4d35-ae4a-a7b69da88c12"
source_url: "http://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/default.aspx?BillNumber=SB0551&GA=110"
source_hash: "0ab5a91258b4ffd467820dfce1375c931164e1295ffd54c6eec570daa3d5ebec"
vintage: "2026-07-01"
source_snapshot: "https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-06"
confidence: "reported"
tags: ["legislation", "bill", "us-tn"]
---

# Tennessee SB 551 (110) — Sentencing - As enacted, increases classification of offense of patronizing prostitution from a Class B to a Class A misdemeanor. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 13, Part 3 and Title 39, Chapter 13, Part 5.

## Version chain

The bill's text revisions, in order — the diff chain from filing to enrollment.

1. **Current Version** (committee substitute) — [source](http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/110/Bill/SB0551.pdf)

## Votes

- SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: Recommended for passage with amendments, refer to Senate Calendar Committee 2/28/2017 Passed — **9–0** (pass) · upper
- FLOOR VOTE: THIRD CONSIDERATION AMENDED 3/6/2017 Passed (1) — **33–0** (pass) · upper
- FLOOR VOTE: PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/10/2017 Passed (1) — **97–0** (pass) · lower

## Sponsors

- Coley — primary (person)
- Ketron — primary (person)

## Timeline

The legislative action history — every referral, reading, and vote.

- **2017-02-07** Filed for introduction `introduction, reading-1`
- **2017-02-07** Filed for intro. `introduction, reading-1`
- **2017-02-08** Introduced, Passed on First Consideration `introduction`
- **2017-02-08** Intro., P1C. `introduction`
- **2017-02-09** Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee
- **2017-02-09** P2C, ref. to Criminal Justice Committee `referral-committee`
- **2017-02-14** Assigned to s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee `referral-committee`
- **2017-02-22** Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 2/28/2017
- **2017-02-28** Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 9, Nays 0 PNV 0
- **2017-03-03** Placed on Senate Regular Calendar calendar for 3/6/2017
- **2017-03-06** Engrossed; ready for transmission to House
- **2017-03-06** Sponsor(s) Added.
- **2017-03-06** Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 33, Nays 0 `passage`
- **2017-03-06** Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0065)
- **2017-03-08** Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/14/2017
- **2017-03-09** Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.
- **2017-03-14** Action Def. in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee to 3/21/2017
- **2017-03-15** Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/21/2017
- **2017-03-21** Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Criminal Justice Committee `referral-committee`
- **2017-03-22** Placed on cal. Criminal Justice Committee for 3/29/2017
- **2017-03-23** Sponsor(s) Added.
- **2017-03-29** Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee `committee-passage-favorable`
- **2017-04-05** Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/6/2017
- **2017-04-06** H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/10/2017
- **2017-04-10** Passed H., Ayes 97, Nays 0, PNV 0 `passage`
- **2017-04-10** Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA0236) `amendment-withdrawal`
- **2017-04-10** Subst. for comp. HB.
- **2017-04-10** Sponsor(s) Added.
- **2017-04-10** Comp. SB subst.
- **2017-04-12** Signed by H. Speaker
- **2017-04-12** Signed by Senate Speaker
- **2017-04-12** Enrolled and ready for signatures
- **2017-04-13** Transmitted to Governor for action.
- **2017-04-24** Signed by Governor. `executive-signature`
- **2017-05-03** Pub. Ch. 169
- **2017-05-03** Effective date(s) 04/24/2017
- **2017-05-03** Comp. became Pub. Ch. 169

## Source

OpenStates / OpenCivicData bulk snapshot [2026-07-01](https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump); origin `ocd-bill/34c8251e-c482-4d35-ae4a-a7b69da88c12`. Confidence: reported (aggregated from official Tennessee legislature records).