Tennessee Code Annotated
Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-16-501 (2026)
Part definitions
✓ current as of May 2026
As used in this part, unless the context otherwise requires:
- (1) "Public servant" means a person elected, selected, employed or otherwise designated as one (1) of the following, even if the person has not yet qualified for office or assumed the duties:
- (A) An officer, employee, or agent of government;
- (B) A juror or grand juror;
- (C) An arbitrator or other person who is authorized by law or private written contract to hear or determine a controversy;
- (D) An attorney or notary public performing a governmental function;
- (E) A candidate for nomination or election to public office; or
- (F) A nominee, member, representative, or other holder of a position on a board, commission, or public body of the state or a political subdivision thereof; and
- (2) "Statement" means any representation of fact.
Amended by 2022 Tenn. Acts, ch. 1142, s 1, eff. 7/1/2022.
Acts 1989, ch. 591, § 1.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 5
cases (1 in the last 5 years), 2015–2021 · leading case: State of Tennessee v. Cory Lynn White (Tenn. Crim. App. 2018).
State of Tennessee v. Cory Lynn White (Tenn. Crim. App. 2018). “] Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-16-502 (a)(2)(B). A statement is defined as “any representation of fact.”
Troy D. Bartley v. Brenda Jones, Warden (Tenn. Crim. App. 2015). “See Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 39-16-501 , 40-35-111(b)(5).”
State of Tennessee v. Curtis Reed Hosendove (Tenn. Crim. App. 2020). “§ 39-16-501(2) (2018). The statute “encompasses not only reports volunteered or initiated by individuals to law enforcement .”
State of Tennessee v. Stacy Ann Givens (Tenn. Crim. App. 2021). “§ 39-16-501 (1989). The Defendant contends that she “in good faith was reporting a true offense” because she “believed Rikard was trespassing in her home and that she had the right to have her removed.”
State of Tennessee v. Angela Ayers (Tenn. Crim. App. 2015). “§ 39-16-501(2) (2014). The statute “encompasses not only reports volunteered or initiated by individuals to law enforcement .”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-16-501(2) — 2 cases
State of Tennessee v. Curtis Reed Hosendove (Tenn. Crim. App. 2020). “§ 39-16-501(2) (2018). The statute “encompasses not only reports volunteered or initiated by individuals to law enforcement .”
State of Tennessee v. Angela Ayers (Tenn. Crim. App. 2015). “§ 39-16-501(2) (2014). The statute “encompasses not only reports volunteered or initiated by individuals to law enforcement .”
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