There are many bills related to community safety. This section reflects the bills where we have taken an official position and remain under review.
Support = Safer TN is working to help pass
Description: This bill serves three purposes: 1. provides clarifying language on firearm possession by individuals under the age of 25 who were adjudicated delinquent as a juvenile for the criminal offense of threats of mass violence; 2. provides clarifying language for federally licensed firearm dealer sales; and 3. provides enhanced penalties for offenses related to the sexual exploitation of a minor.
Primary House Sponsor: Williams – R
Primary Senate Sponsor: Bailey – R
Support
Description: Creates the criminal offense of recklessly discharging a firearm into the air, ground, a body of water, or an object in close proximity to the person if the firearm is discharged at a place where other people are or may be present. Provides specified exceptions. Violation is a Class A misdemeanor.
Primary House Sponsor: Kumar – R
Primary Senate Sponsor: Hensley – R
Support
Description: Authorizes schools to offer a hunter education course as part of physical education, health, or safety instruction for students in 5th through 12th grade.
Primary House Sponsor: Todd – R
Primary Senate Sponsor: Rose – R
Support
Monitor = Safer TN is monitoring for amendments and additional information before engaging
Description: Establishes a sales tax holiday for the retail sale of firearms and ammunition during the period of July 3-6, 2026.
Primary House Sponsor: Lamberth – R
Primary Senate Sponsor: Johnson – R
Monitor
Description: Lowers the standard for the use of deadly force to protect property. The bill expands Tennessee law to make it easier for individuals to legally use deadly force to protect property when they feel there is no safer option.
Primary House Sponsor: Capley – R
Primary Senate Sponsor: Hensley – R
Monitor
Caption Bill Description*: Changes the deadline for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to report excess background check fee money- Changes from February 1 to February 15 the date by which the Tennessee bureau of investigation must report excess money collected pursuant to background check fees charged to gun dealers. Broadly captioned. – Amends TCA Title 4; Title 8; Title 10; Title 16; Title 33; Title 36; Title 37; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40; Title 45; Title 49; Title 50; Title 55; Title 62; Title 67 and Title 70.
Primary House Sponsor: Garrett – R
Primary Senate Sponsor: Hensley – R
Monitor
Description: Allows local sheriffs to provide secure storage lockers at courthouses for individuals to store their firearms at or near a designated public entrance to the building, at no cost to the individual.
Primary House Sponsor: Doggett – R
Primary Senate Sponsor: Hensley – R
Monitor
Caption Bill Description*: Changes the annual reporting date for school violence prevention compliance from February 1 to October 1- Changes the annual reporting date by which the commissioner of education and the commissioner of safety shall jointly report to the governor and the general assembly the implementation of and compliance with the “Schools Against Violence in Education Act” from February 1 to October 1. Broadly captioned. – Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 6.
Primary House Sponsor: Eldridge – R
Primary Senate Sponsor: Crowe – R
Monitor
Caption Bill Description*: Deadline for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to report excess background check fees charged to gun dealers- Changes the deadline for the Tennessee bureau of investigation to report to the judiciary committee of the senate and the criminal justice committee of the house of representatives the amount of any background check fees charged to gun dealers that exceeds the costs associated with conducting background checks from February 1 to February 15. Broadly captioned. – Amends TCA Title 16; Title 33; Title 36; Title 37; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40; Title 49 and Title 65.
Primary House Sponsor: Doggett – R
Primary Senate Sponsor: Hensley – R
Monitor
Description: Allows lifetime orders of protection against out-of-state offenders if the petitioner or respondent resides in Tennessee. It does not expand the types of offenses that qualify for a lifetime order of protection, but extends to analogous out-of-state convictions.
Primary House Sponsor: Lamberth – R
Primary Senate Sponsor: White – R
Monitor
Oppose = Safer TN is working to stop
Description: Comprehensive bill amending many sections of the code relative to firearms. Repeals many criminal offenses related to firearm possession, such as carrying a firearm with the intent to go armed, possession of a weapon in a public park, playground, civic center or other recreational area, and possession of a firearm by an individual under the age of 25 if that individual was adjudicated delinquent of certain offenses as a juvenile. Makes various other changes to the code with respect to the possession and carrying of firearms.
Primary House Sponsor: Fritts – R
Primary Senate Sponsor: Hensley – R
Oppose
Description: Comprehensive bill amending many sections of the code relative to firearms. Repeals many criminal offenses related to firearm possession, such as carrying a firearm with the intent to go armed, and possession of a weapon in a public park, playground, civic center or other recreational area. Provides a mechanism for individuals convicted of domestic violence and stalking to restore their Second Amendment rights. Amends various other laws on the possession and carrying of firearms.
Primary House Sponsor: Todd – R
Primary Senate Sponsor: Bailey – R
Oppose
Description: Comprehensive bill amending many sections of the code relative to firearms. Some of the changes include alterations to the criminal offense of carrying a firearm with the intent to go armed, creating immunity from criminal prosecution for justified use of deadly force in defense of self, defense of others and defense of certain property, and expanding the possession and carrying of firearms in courthouses and educational institutions.
Primary House Sponsor: Fritts – R
Primary Senate Sponsor: Hensley – R
Oppose
Description: Declares that a person who is not otherwise prohibited from firearm possession and ownership is considered to be individually licensed and verified by the state for the purposes of the federal Gun-Free School Zones Act, thereby making it legal for those individuals to possess firearms in school zones without additional training, permitting or licensing from the state to specifically authorize them to possess a firearm in a school zone. Broadly Captioned. – Amends TCA Title 39.
Primary House Sponsor: Russell – R
Primary Senate Sponsor: Bowling – R
Oppose
*A caption bill is a legislative placeholder used to meet filing deadlines without revealing the bill’s full substance. It contains a broad title and minimal, non-substantive language, allowing it to be rewritten later in the legislative session via an amendment.