The following is an update on NRA-backed bills that are currently working through the legislature. Please contact your State Senator and State Representative to respectfully urge them to support all of the NRA-backed bills listed below without any restricting amendments. For contact information or help identifying your State Legislators, please click here. For Tennessee Legislature Committee information please visit http://www.capitol.tn.gov/committees/.
Senate Joint Resolution 30, sponsored by State Senator Doug Jackson (D- 25), would propose an amendment to the Tennessee Constitution recognizing citizens’ right to hunt and fish. The final language of the Resolution incorporates NRA’s model language and provides truly meaningful protections against the anti-hunting activists who seek to ban all hunting in America. The ultimate adoption of this constitutional amendment will preserve Tennessee’s rich hunting and fishing traditions for generations to come. SJR 30 is currently in the Fish and Wildlife Committee where it is expected to be voted on in the coming weeks. Please contact Senate Leadership and ask them to include the one-time $20,000 fiscal note attached to SJR 30 in the budget. This is a one-time publication cost of $20,000 to print the text of the proposed amendment in newspapers.
Senate Bill 264, sponsored by State Senator Doug Jackson (D-25), would authorize Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency (TWRA) to issue sport fishing and hunting licenses at no cost to Tennessee residents who are 100 percent disabled and receive social security disability. SB 264 has been referred to the Senate Environment, Conservation and Tourism Committee and is expected to be heard Tuesday, April 7. House Bill 569, sponsored by State Representative David Shepard (D-69), is the companion bill to SB 264. HB 569 is still pending in the House Committee on Conservation and Environment.
Senate Bill 576, sponsored by State Senator Doug Jackson (R- 25), would allow a person who has a valid Right-to-Carry permit to carry a firearm into restaurants where alcohol may be served, as long as the permit holder is not consuming alcohol or is not otherwise prohibited by posting provisions. SB 576 was taken off notice in the Senate Judiciary Committee. House Bill 1807, sponsored by State Representative Ben West (D-60), is the companion bill to SB 576. HB 1807 is currently in the House Subcommittee on Criminal Practice and Procedure and is expected to be heard Wednesday, April 15. Similar legislation, House Bill 962, sponsored by Representative Curry Todd (R-95), would also allow a person with a handgun carry permit to carry in restaurants that serve alcoholic beverages as long as that person is not consuming alcoholic beverages and the restaurant is not an age-restricted venue. Please continue to contact members of the House and encourage them to amend HB 962 to remove any restricting amendments on permittees carrying in restaurants. HB 962 is expected to be heard on the House Floor Monday, April 6. SB 1127, also sponsored by State Senator Doug Jackson, is the companion bill to HB 962. Please contact Senator Jackson and ask him to amend Senate Bill 1127 to include no additional restrictions on permittees carrying in restaurants other than a prohibition on alcohol consumption. SB 1127 is expected to be heard Wednesday, April 8 in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Senate Bill 842, sponsored by State Senator Doug Jackson (R- 25), would authorize persons with handgun permits to carry a handgun while hunting big game during bow-hunting deer season. SB 842 has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee and is expected to be heard Wednesday, April 8. House Bill 770, sponsored by State Representative Mike Turner (D-51), is the companion bill to SB 842. HB 770 expected to be heard Wednesday, April 8 by the full Judiciary Committee. Please contact the bill sponsors and ask them to expand this bill to include muzzle-loading season.
Senate Bill 1129, sponsored by State Senator Mark Norris (R-32), is Right-to-Carry reform legislation that would allow persons with valid handgun carry permit to carry in public parks, public postsecondary institutions, and places where alcoholic beverages are being served so long as that individual is not consuming alcohol. It also would allow judges to carry firearms where law enforcement can carry if they have a permit or appropriate training. House Bill 724, sponsored by State Representative Brian Kelsey (R-83), is the companion bill to SB 1129. HB 724 is expected to be heard in the House Judiciary Criminal Practice Subcommittee Wednesday, April 8. As a result of similar bills being filed this session, both these bills are expected to be amended to define "loaded and unloaded" for rifles and shotguns.
Senate Bill 1261, sponsored by State Senator Dewayne Bunch (R-9), would authorize all full-time faculty and staff at any public postsecondary institution in the state who have a valid handgun carry permit to carry handguns at all times upon the premises of the institution at which they are employed. SB 1261 has been taken off notice. House Bill 798, sponsored by State Representative Stacey Campfield (R-18), is the companion bill to SB 1261. HB 798 failed to pass out of the House Judiciary Criminal and Practice Subcommittee on April 1. This legislation is expected to be filed next session.
Senate Bill 1403, sponsored by State Senator Doug Jackson (R- 25), would allow a person who has received voluntary inpatient mental health care to apply for a handgun carry permit if the hospitalization occurred at least five years earlier, and the applicant attaches a statement from a doctor that he/she does not pose an immediate risk of serious harm due to mental illness. SB 1403 has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. House Bill 1748, sponsored by State Representative Eddie Bass (D-65), is the companion bill to SB 1403. HB 1748 is currently in the House Subcommittee on Criminal Practice and Procedure and is expected to be heard during the final days of sub-committee.
Senate Bill 1607 sponsored by State Senator Mae Beavers (R-17), would allow the transportation and storage of a firearm in a locked vehicle and prohibits employers and nongovernmental entities from prohibiting persons possessing a handgun carry permit from transporting and storing a firearm out of sight, in a locked vehicle, or in any property set aside for vehicles. SB 1607 has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee and is expected to be heard Wednesday, April 8. House Bill 1793, sponsored by State Representative Ben West (D-70), is the companion bill to SB 1607. HB 1793 is expected to be heard in the House Judiciary Criminal Practice Subcommittee on Wednesday, April 15. Both these Bills are facing considerable opposition from the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce and Fed-Ex corporation which are putting pressure on Leadership to prevent its passage. State Representative Mike Turner (D-51) has expressed interest in meeting this summer to address the concerns of the NRA, the Chamber and other interested parties. Similar legislation, House Bill 1395, sponsored by State Representative Joshua Evans’ (R-66), is expected to be heard in the House Judiciary Criminal Practice Subcommittee Wednesday, April 8. Senate Bill 1724, sponsored by State Senator Dewayne Bunch (R-9), is the companion bill to HB 1395. Please continue to call your legislators in support of this critical self-defense bill. Ask them to vote in favor of workplace protection legislation to protect the Second Amendment rights of Tennessee gun owners and sportsmen.
Senate Bill 1908, the “Second Amendment Protection Act,” sponsored by State Senator Doug Jackson (R- 25), would prohibit the sale of micro-stamped firearms or ammunition in Tennessee. This preventive measure is currently in the Senate Judiciary Committee and is expected to be heard Wednesday, April 8. House Bill 1924 sponsored by State Representative Henry Fincher (D-42) is the companion bill to SB 1908. HB 1924 has been referred to the House Judiciary’s Sub-committee on Criminal Practice and Procedure and is expected to be heard Wednesday, April 8.
House Bill 46, sponsored by State Representative Joshua Evans (R-66), would prohibit the Department of Safety or any department-approved handgun safety employee from requiring an applicant for a carry permit to furnish any identifying information concerning any handgun the applicant owns or possesses. HB 46 passed the House on March 19 by a vote of 88 to 2 and now heads to the Senate for consideration. Senate Bill 32, sponsored by State Senator Jim Tracy (R-16), is the companion bill to HB 46. SB 32 unanimously passed the Senate Judiciary Committee on April 1 and is now expected to be heard on the Senate Floor Monday, April 6.
House Bill 70, sponsored by State Representative Henry Fincher (D-42), would remove the prohibition against using deadly force in protection of property. HB 70 overwhelmingly passed the House on March 19 by a vote 89 of 1 and will now be considered by the Senate. Senate Bill 474, sponsored by State Senator Andy Berke (D-10) is the companion bill to HB 70. SB 474 is expected to be heard Wednesday, April 8.
House Bill 82, sponsored by State Representative Johnny Shaw (D-80), would authorize current and retired judges who possess a handgun carry permit to carry a firearm under the same circumstances and conditions as law enforcement officers and correctional officers. HB 82 passed the House on April 2 by a vote of 85 to 10 and is now heading to the Senate. Senate Bill 19, sponsored by State Senator Dolores Gresham (R-26), is the companion bill to HB 82 and is expected to be heard soon by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
House Bill 112, sponsored by State Representative Mike Bell (R-23), would authorize the carrying of handguns by persons with a handgun carry permit on public hunting areas and wildlife management areas and subjects such persons to all wildlife laws, rules, and regulations. HB 112 was taken off notice due to House Bill 961, similar legislation, which has been moving forward in the House. Senate Bill 40, sponsored by State Senator Bunch, is the companion bill to HB 112. SB 40 was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee and is also expected to be taken off notice.
House Bill 254, sponsored by State Representative Glen Casada (R-63), would delete the requirement to give a thumbprint as part of the background check process when purchasing a firearm. HB 254 passed the House on March 12 by a vote of 82 to 11 and s been referred to the Senate. Senate Bill 554, sponsored by State Senator Mark Norris (R-32), is the companion bill to HB 254. SB 554, as expected, unanimously passed the Senate Judiciary Committee on April 1. SB 554 will now move to the Senate Floor in the coming weeks.
House Bill 390, sponsored by State Representative Henry Fincher (D-42), would allow handgun carry permit holders to possess or carry a loaded rifle, loaded shotgun, or loaded magazine or clip while in a motor vehicle. HB 390 passed the House on March 19 by a vote of 82 to10 and will now be considered by the Senate. Senate Bill 578, sponsored by Senator Doug Jackson, is the companion bill to HB 390. SB 578 is currently in the Senate Judiciary and is expected to be heard Wednesday, April 8.
House Bill 716, sponsored by State Representative Frank Niceley (R-17), would allow any resident who has a valid handgun carry permit to possess a handgun while within the boundaries of any state park. HB 716 passed out of the Finance Ways and Means Budget sub-committee without any amendments on April 1 and has been placed on the calendar to be heard by the full committee Tuesday, April 7. Senate Bill 976, sponsored by State Senator Tim Burchett (R-7), is the companion bill to HB 716. SB 976 is currently in the Senate Judiciary Committee and is expected to be heard Wednesday, April 8.
House Bill 959, sponsored by State Representative Eddie Bass (D-65), would ensure the privacy of handgun permit holders by making records of permit applications and renewals confidential. HB 959 was amended to allow for the sharing only of statistical information. HB 959 is pending in the Finance Ways and Means Budget sub-committee and is expected to be heard Wednesday, April 22. Please contact members of the sub-committee requesting that no further amendments be attached. Senate Bill 1126, sponsored by State Senator Mark Norris (R-32), is the companion bill to HB 959. SB 1126 was amended to allow for any information to be released to the office of the comptroller for the purpose of determining the department's compliance with applicable law relative to the issuance of carry permits. SB 1126 is expected to be voted on by the Senate in the coming weeks.
House Bill 960, sponsored by State Representative Harry Tindell (D-13), would authorize a person with a handgun carry permit to possess a firearm while in local, state or federal parks. HB 960 has been amended to allow for a local government body to maintain control of carry within the local parks. Please contact your Representative and express your opposition to this amendment that will create a confusing patchwork of carry laws across the state. Please contact Speaker Kent Williams (Carter County, R- 4) and thank him for speaking in the House Judiciary Committee against the local parks amendment. HB 960 passed the Finance Ways and Means Budget sub-committee on April 1 and now heads to full committee where it is expected to be heard Tuesday, April 7. Senate Bill 1518, sponsored by State Senator Mae Beavers (R-17), is the companion bill to HB 960. SB 1518 is currently in the Senate Judiciary Committee and is expected to be heard Wednesday, April 8.
House Bill 961, sponsored by State Representative Mike Bell (R-26), would authorize a person with a handgun carry permit to possess a firearm in a refuge, public hunting area, wildlife management area, or on national forest land. HB 961 has been amended to contain specific language that negates the effect of the bill and then provides additional language that may even be argued to restrict access to certain areas. Please contact your Representative and ask them to remove the restrictive language. HB 961 has been referred to the House Finance, Ways and Means Subcommittee on Budget and is expected to be heard Wednesday, April 8. Senate Bill 1519, sponsored by State Senator Tim Burchett (R-7), is the companion bill to HB 961 and is expected to be heard by the Senate Judiciary on Wednesday, April 8.
House Bill 2313, sponsored by State Representative Eddie Bass (D-65), would authorize the Department of Safety to present a law enforcement officer’s service weapon to the spouse or child of an officer who dies in the line of duty. HB 2313 has been referred to the State and Local Government Committee and is expected to be heard Tuesday, April 7. Senate Bill 2276, sponsored by State Senator Jim Kyle (D-28), is the companion bill to HB 2313. SB 2276 unanimously passed the Senate Transportation Committee on March 31 and is expected to be heard on the Senate Floor Monday, April 6.
House Bill 2376, sponsored by State Representative David Shepard (D-69), would modify the methods of disposing of certain confiscated firearms, and would prohibit the destruction of confiscated firearms, instead requiring them to be auctioned or sold to federally licensed firearms dealers. Proceeds from the sale of these firearms would be used to benefit law enforcement agencies. HB 2376 is expected to be heard Wednesday, April 8 in the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Criminal Practice and Procedure. Senate Bill 2334, sponsored by State Senator Doug Jackson (R- 25), is the companion bill to HB 2376. SB 2334 is currently in the Senate Judiciary and is expected to be heard Wednesday, April 8.
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