{"data":{"id":"us-tn/tenn.-code-ann.-20-17-103","jurisdiction":"us-tn","citation":"Tenn. Code Ann. § 20-17-103","heading":"Chapter definitions","body":"As used in this chapter: (1) \"Communication\" means the making or submitting of a statement or document in any form or medium, including oral, written, audiovisual, or electronic; (2) \"Exercise of the right of association\" means exercise of the constitutional right to join together to take collective action on a matter of public concern that falls within the protection of the United States Constitution or the Tennessee Constitution; (3) \"Exercise of the right of free speech\" means a communication made in connection with a matter of public concern or religious expression that falls within the protection of the United States Constitution or the Tennessee Constitution; (4) \"Exercise of the right to petition\" means a communication that falls within the protection of the United States Constitution or the Tennessee Constitution and: (A) Is intended to encourage consideration or review of an issue by a federal, state, or local legislative, executive, judicial, or other governmental body; or (B) Is intended to enlist public participation in an effort to effect consideration of an issue by a federal, state, or local legislative, executive, judicial, or other governmental body; (5) \"Legal action\" means a claim, cause of action, petition, cross-claim, or counterclaim or any request for legal or equitable relief initiated against a private party; (6) \"Matter of public concern\" includes an issue related to: (A) Health or safety; (B) Environmental, economic, or community well-being; (C) The government; (D) A public official or public figure; (E) A good, product, or service in the marketplace; (F) A literary, musical, artistic, political, theatrical, or audiovisual work; or (G) Any other matter deemed by a court to involve a matter of public concern; and (7) \"Party\" does not include a governmental entity, agency, or employee. Added by 2019 Tenn. Acts, ch. 185,s 1, eff. 7/1/2019.\nAs used in this chapter:\n(1) \"Communication\" means the making or submitting of a statement or document in any form or medium, including oral, written, audiovisual, or electronic;\n(2) \"Exercise of the right of association\" means exercise of the constitutional right to join together to take collective action on a matter of public concern that falls within the protection of the United States Constitution or the Tennessee Constitution;\n(3) \"Exercise of the right of free speech\" means a communication made in connection with a matter of public concern or religious expression that falls within the protection of the United States Constitution or the Tennessee Constitution;\n(4) \"Exercise of the right to petition\" means a communication that falls within the protection of the United States Constitution or the Tennessee Constitution and: (A) Is intended to encourage consideration or review of an issue by a federal, state, or local legislative, executive, judicial, or other governmental body; or (B) Is intended to enlist public participation in an effort to effect consideration of an issue by a federal, state, or local legislative, executive, judicial, or other governmental body;\n(A) Is intended to encourage consideration or review of an issue by a federal, state, or local legislative, executive, judicial, or other governmental body; or\n(B) Is intended to enlist public participation in an effort to effect consideration of an issue by a federal, state, or local legislative, executive, judicial, or other governmental body;\n(5) \"Legal action\" means a claim, cause of action, petition, cross-claim, or counterclaim or any request for legal or equitable relief initiated against a private party;\n, judicial, or other governmental body; or\n(B) Is intended to enlist public participation in an effort to effect consideration of an issue by a federal, state, or local legislative, executive, judicial, or other governmental body;\n(5) \"Legal action\" means a claim, cause of action, petition, cross-claim, or counterclaim or any request for legal or equitable relief initiated against a private party;\n(6) \"Matter of public concern\" includes an issue related to: (A) Health or safety; (B) Environmental, economic, or community well-being; (C) The government; (D) A public official or public figure; (E) A good, product, or service in the marketplace; (F) A literary, musical, artistic, political, theatrical, or audiovisual work; or (G) Any other matter deemed by a court to involve a matter of public concern; and\n(A) Health or safety;\n(B) Environmental, economic, or community well-being;\n(C) The government;\n(D) A public official or public figure;\n(E) A good, product, or service in the marketplace;\n(F) A literary, musical, artistic, political, theatrical, or audiovisual work; or\n(G) Any other matter deemed by a court to involve a matter of public concern; and\n(7) \"Party\" does not include a governmental entity, agency, or employee.","path":["TN Code","Title 20","Chapter 17"],"source_url":"https://oss-data-us.vaquill.ai/v2026.08/us_tn_statutes.parquet","current_through":"2026-08-14","vintage":"open-us-law v2026.08, retrieved 2026-09-14","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T18:32:26Z","sha256":"1da356d8abde7ece10dbe821a832872df4f8ce5528f7972a6da2db8ded03e832","source_id":"us-tn","stale":false,"prev":"us-tn/tenn.-code-ann.-20-17-102","next":"us-tn/tenn.-code-ann.-20-17-104"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}