Firearms and Ammunition - As introduced, deletes the offense of carrying a firearm or a club with the intent to go armed, prohibits the carrying of a firearm or weapon inside of a K-12 public or private school and on a school bus if the person's intent is to go armed and the school and the bus are posted in a certain manner; deletes the offense of carrying a firearm on the property of a university, college campus, and other public or private non-K-12 educational institutions or property; rewrites the offense of possessing a handgun while under the influence of alcohol or any controlled substance or controlled substance analogue; rewrites the offense of carrying weapons during judicial proceedings; makes various other changes related to firearms. - Amends TCA Title 16; Title 36; Title 37; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40; Title 49; Title 55 and Title 65.
SB 2478 changes Tennessee's firearm laws by removing the offense of carrying a firearm with "intent to go armed" in schools and on school buses (when posted), and deleting similar restrictions on university campuses. It rewrites rules about possessing handguns while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and carrying weapons during court proceedings. The bill also adds new provisions allowing property owners to threaten deadly force against unlawful trespassers who refuse to leave, creating a presumption of justification for such actions. These changes directly affect school staff, students, property owners, and individuals interacting with law enforcement over firearm-related incidents.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Feb 2, 2026
Last action Mar 23, 2026
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
6
Key actions
2
Committee
3
Mar 23, 2026
Lower · Passed
Action deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 2027
lower
Mar 18, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/23/2026
lower
Feb 5, 2026
Committee
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee
upper
Feb 2, 2026
Introduced
Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Joey Hensley
RRepublican
Ask Maddy
·
AI policy assistant
Ask Maddy about SB 2478
Scope: TN
Hi! I can help you understand SB 2478. What would you like to know?
Try one of these
i
Maddy answers using official bill text and legislative records. Always verify before sharing.
Sources cited inline