HB 563 Tennessee House · 114th Regular Session (2025-2026)

Firearms and Ammunition - As introduced, creates the Class C misdemeanor offense of storing a firearm or firearm ammunition in a motor vehicle while the person is not in the motor vehicle unless the firearm or firearm ammunition is kept from ordinary observation and locked within the trunk, utility or glove box, or a locked container securely affixed to the motor vehicle; requires the owner of a firearm to report the loss or theft of the firearm to law enforcement within 24 hours of the discovery of the loss or theft. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13.

HB 563 would create a Class C misdemeanor for storing a handgun in a vehicle when the owner is not present, unless the handgun is locked and out of sight (e.g., in the trunk, glove box, or a locked container affixed to the vehicle). It also requires handgun owners to report a lost or stolen handgun to law enforcement within 24 hours of discovery. Violations would only require completing a court-approved handgun safety course, with no fines or jail time. The bill, which amends Tennessee Code Annotated, is scheduled to take effect July 1, 2025.
Bill status failed 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Feb 3, 2025 Last action Mar 26, 2025
Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
6
Key actions
1
Committee
3
Mar 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/26/2025
lower
Feb 5, 2025
Committee
P2C, ref. to Judiciary Committee
lower
Feb 5, 2025
Committee
Assigned to s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee
lower
Feb 3, 2025
Introduced
Intro., P1C.
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Caleb Hemmer
Caleb Hemmer
DDemocratic
TN
59