KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Tennessee

HB0159 • 2026

Criminal Offenses

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39, Chapter 13, Part 1, relative to reckless endangerment.

Crime Firearms
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
McCalmon
Last action
2025-02-05
Official status
Withdrawn.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill was withdrawn, so its current status is inactive and it will not take effect on July 1, 2025 as originally planned.

Amending Penalties for Reckless Endangerment with Firearms

This bill amends Tennessee's criminal code to increase penalties for discharging a firearm or antique firearm into an occupied motor vehicle from a Class E felony to a Class C felony, unless the vehicle is unoccupied at the time of discharge, in which case it becomes a Class D felony.

What This Bill Does

  • Amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39, Chapter 13, Part 1, relative to reckless endangerment by discharging a firearm or antique firearm into a motor vehicle from a Class E felony to a Class C felony if the vehicle is occupied at the time of discharge.
  • Reduces the penalty to a Class D felony if the motor vehicle was unoccupied when the firearm was discharged.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who commit reckless endangerment by discharging firearms or antique firearms into motor vehicles
  • Law enforcement agencies that enforce this law

Terms To Know

Class C felony
A serious crime with a higher punishment than other types of felonies.
Reckless endangerment
An act that puts someone in danger without meaning to but showing a lack of care for others' safety.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill was withdrawn and is no longer active.
  • It does not specify how the change will affect current cases or individuals already charged with this crime.

Bill History

  1. Date Tennessee General Assembly

  2. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Withdrawn.

  3. 2025-01-28 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee

  4. 2025-01-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Judiciary Committee

  5. 2025-01-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  6. 2025-01-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
<BillNo> <Sponsor>

HOUSE BILL 159
By McCalmon

HB0159
001603
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39,
Chapter 13, Part 1, relative to reckless
endangerment.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-13-103(b)(3), is amended by
deleting the subdivision and substituting:
(3) Reckless endangerment by discharging a firearm or antique firearm into a
habitation, as defined under § 39-14-401, or a motor vehicle, as defined by § 55-1-103,
is a Class C felony, unless the habitation or motor vehicle was unoccupied at the time of
the offense, in which event it is a Class D felony.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it.