Criminal Justice (Firearms)

in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 25, 2025

HB 358: Bail, Bail Bonds - As introduced, requires a court or magistrate to impose global positioning monitoring as a condition of release for a defendant accused of certain offenses, unless the court or magistrate enters written findings that the defendant does not pose a threat to the victim or public safety; requires the administrative office of the courts to compile an annual report of the number of defendants subject to such an order. - Amends TCA Title 39; Title 40; Title 55; Chapter 969 of the Public Acts of 2024 and Chapter 1033 of the Public Acts of 2024.

HB 358 requires Tennessee courts to mandate GPS monitoring as a condition of bail for defendants charged with specific offenses - including gun-related crimes, domestic assault, vehicle burglaries, reckless driving, drag racing, or repeat offenses - unless the court issues written findings that the defendant poses no threat to victims or public safety. The bill applies to defendants arrested for offenses listed in Section 1(b), such as those involving firearms, serious injury, or domestic violence. Courts must report monthly data on GPS monitoring cases to the Administrative Office of the Courts, which will compile an annual report for legislative committees by July 1 each year. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, and does not alter existing bail procedures for other offenses.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandates GPS monitoring for high-risk defendants, restricting release conditions without presumption of safety, reducing defendant rights per bill language.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence Firearms

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 12, 2025

SB 1131: Orders of Protection - As introduced, allows a court to issue an emergency protection order upon a finding that a person poses an imminent risk of harm to the person or others if allowed to purchase or possess a firearm; authorizes a family member, household member, intimate partner, or law enforcement officer to petition for such an order. - Amends TCA Title 36 and Title 39.

SB 1131 would allow Tennessee courts to issue emergency protection orders prohibiting individuals from purchasing or possessing firearms when a family member, household member, intimate partner, or law enforcement officer files a petition alleging an imminent risk of harm. The order would take effect immediately, with a court hearing required within 30 days to extend it for up to one year if the petitioner proves the risk by a preponderance of evidence. Petitioners would not pay court costs, fees, or related expenses, and law enforcement must report the order to national databases. This bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39, Chapter 17, to establish this process.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens firearm restrictions in domestic violence cases via emergency protection orders, aligning with criminal justice reform goals to prevent harm and enhance victim safety.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence Firearms

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate May 27, 2025

SB 1082: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, adds certain criminal offenses to the list of dangerous felonies for purposes of the offense of possessing a firearm or antique firearm during commission or attempt to commit a dangerous felony. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13.

SB 1082 amends Tennessee law to add 30+ new offenses to the list of "dangerous felonies" that trigger stricter penalties for firearm possession during or after committing those crimes. It directly affects individuals convicted of specific violent or serious crimes like aggravated robbery, rape, human trafficking, meth manufacturing, or aggravated burglary who possess firearms during or attempt such offenses. The key mechanism expands the existing list of dangerous felonies (e.g., adding "aggravated stalking," "trafficking for commercial sex acts," and "meth manufacturing" to the list) so that firearm possession during these crimes becomes a separate offense with enhanced penalties. This bill takes effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands dangerous felony list to impose stricter firearm possession penalties during specified crimes, increasing mandatory sentences and expanding criminalization.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Drug Policy Firearms

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 31, 2025

SB 1348: Firearms and Ammunition - As introduced, deletes the exception to the criminal offense of unlawfully carrying a firearm with intent to go armed for persons who lawfully possess a handgun, are in a place where the person is lawfully present, and are at least 21 years old or 18 years old with certain military service. - Amends TCA Title 39.

SB 1348 removes an exception that currently allows certain individuals to carry handguns without a permit in specific locations. It deletes language from Tennessee law that previously exempted people who lawfully possess a handgun and are at least 21 years old (or 18 with military service) from being charged with unlawfully carrying a firearm while in a place they are legally allowed to be. The bill directly affects those who currently rely on this exemption, making it a criminal offense to carry a handgun in such settings without a permit. The changes take effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRemoves exemption allowing permitless carry for certain handgun owners, expanding criminalization of firearm possession under existing law.95% confidence ✗ VeteransOpposes VeteransRemoves firearm carry exemption for military service members, restricting a recognized benefit under Tennessee law.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms

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failed · Tennessee · House Feb 18, 2026

HB 948: Domestic Violence - As introduced, requires a person who is convicted of domestic assault or subject to an order of protection to dispossess any firearm in the person's possession by transferring the firearm to a law enforcement agency and to provide the court with an affidavit of dispossession of firearms and a receipt from the law enforcement agency. - Amends TCA Title 36; Title 39 and Title 40.

HB 948 requires individuals convicted of domestic assault or subject to a domestic violence order of protection to surrender any firearms they possess to a law enforcement agency within 48 hours. They must then provide the court with a receipt from law enforcement and a completed affidavit of firearm dispossession within three business days. Law enforcement must issue a receipt at the time of surrender, and the court will require proof of compliance. The law applies to all such orders or convictions occurring on or after July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates firearm surrender by domestic violence offenders, reducing gun access for high-risk individuals and aligning with criminal justice reform goals to enhance victim safety and prevent recidivism.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence Firearms

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failed · Tennessee · House Mar 26, 2025

HB 1392: Firearms and Ammunition - As introduced, deletes the exception to the criminal offense of unlawfully carrying a firearm with intent to go armed for persons who lawfully possess a handgun, are in a place where the person is lawfully present, and are at least 21 years old or 18 years old with certain military service. - Amends TCA Title 39.

HB 1392 would remove an exception in Tennessee law that currently allows certain individuals to carry a handgun without facing charges for unlawfully carrying a firearm with intent to go armed. Specifically, it deletes the exemption for people who lawfully possess a handgun, are in a place they are lawfully present, and are either 21 years or older or 18 with qualifying military service. After the bill takes effect on July 1, 2025, these individuals would no longer be exempt and could be charged under the general unlawful carrying provision. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated sections 39-17-1307 and 39-17-1313 to eliminate this exception.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRemoves exemption for lawful firearm carry, expanding criminalization under criminal justice laws by enabling charges for previously exempt scenarios.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 2, 2025

SB 33: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, enacts "MaKayla's Law," which amends the offense of reckless endangerment to specifically include a person's reckless failure to render inoperable or safely secure or lock a firearm, resulting in a child under 13 gaining possession of the firearm and injuring or killing the child or another. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 13.

SB 33, "MaKayla's Law," amends Tennessee's reckless endangerment law to specifically address firearm storage. It makes it a felony for a person who fails to lock, secure, or make a firearm unavailable, resulting in a child under 13 gaining access, discharging the firearm, and causing injury or death. A Class E felony applies for bodily injury, while a Class C felony applies if the discharge causes death. This directly affects firearm owners with children under 13, imposing criminal penalties for negligent storage that leads to child access incidents. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new felony for negligent firearm storage causing child injury/death, expanding criminalization of firearm incidents rather than advancing reform or accountability.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Firearms

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in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 1, 2026

HB 947: Firearms and Ammunition - As introduced, enacts "Akilah's Law," which creates the offense of selling, offering to sell, delivering, or transferring a firearm to a person knowing the person has been a patient in a mental institution at any time within the previous five years. - Amends TCA Title 33 and Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13.

HB 947, "Akilah's Law," creates a new criminal offense for selling, offering to sell, delivering, or transferring a firearm to someone known to have been a patient in a mental health facility within the past five years. It directly affects firearm sellers and individuals with recent mental health institutionalization (excluding those treated solely for voluntary alcohol abuse without other conditions). The law amends Tennessee statutes to prohibit these transactions and defines "mental institution" broadly to include hospitals, clinics, and evaluation facilities. The law will take effect on July 1, 2025, and applies to all firearm transfers, not just sales.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new criminal offense restricting firearm sales to mental health patients, expanding criminalization under gun control90% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms

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in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 14, 2025

HB 468: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, increases the penalty for reckless endangerment when the offense is committed by discharging a firearm or antique firearm into a motor vehicle from a Class E felony to a Class C felony, if the motor vehicle is occupied, or a Class D felony, if the motor vehicle is unoccupied. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 13, Part 1.

HB 468 increases criminal penalties for reckless endangerment involving firearms discharged into vehicles. If a motor vehicle is occupied, discharging a firearm (including antique firearms) into it becomes a Class C felony; if unoccupied, it becomes a Class D felony. The bill amends Tennessee law to specify these penalty levels under reckless endangerment statutes. This change directly affects individuals who recklessly fire weapons into vehicles, raising the severity of potential criminal charges based on whether the vehicle was occupied at the time. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases felony classifications for firearm discharge into vehicles, expanding criminalization and raising penalties per TCA amendments.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms

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passed · Tennessee · Senate Apr 9, 2026

SB 34: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, creates a Class A misdemeanor for knowingly giving, selling, lending, delivering, or otherwise transferring a firearm to a person when the transferor knows or reasonably should know that the person receiving the firearm is prohibited from purchasing or possessing a firearm under state or federal law. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13.

SB 34 creates a Class A misdemeanor for knowingly transferring a firearm to someone prohibited from owning one under state or federal law, directly affecting individuals who sell, lend, or give firearms to such persons. The bill amends Tennessee Code § 39-17-1316 to prohibit giving, selling, lending, delivering, or otherwise transferring firearms when the transferor knows or should reasonably know the recipient is prohibited. Violations carry penalties of up to 11 months in jail and/or fines. The law applies to all firearm transfers occurring on or after July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates Class A misdemeanor for illegal firearm transfers to prohibited persons, strengthening enforcement against firearm crimes under criminal justice framework.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Firearms

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