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HB0478 • 2026

Firearms and Ammunition

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13, relative to firearms.

Crime Firearms
Active

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

Sponsor
Butler, Bailey
Last action
2025-04-02
Official status
Taken off notice for cal. in Judiciary Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary text does not provide information about what happens if someone refuses to store their firearm as requested.

Firearms and Ammunition Act

This bill changes Tennessee law to allow people who accidentally bring firearms into areas where they are not allowed to store their guns in their vehicles upon request from an authorized person.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes a part of Tennessee's laws about carrying firearms.
  • Allows individuals to store firearms in their personal vehicles instead of leaving them behind when entering restricted areas, if asked by someone authorized to control access to the property.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who carry firearms
  • Property owners or managers who control access to their land

Terms To Know

Class B misdemeanor
A type of crime that is less serious than a felony but more serious than an infraction, punishable by up to six months in jail and/or a fine.
Authorized individual
Someone who has the legal right or permission to control access to property.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if someone refuses to store their firearm in their vehicle.
  • It is unclear how this change will affect existing laws about carrying firearms on private and public properties.

Bill History

  1. 2025-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Taken off notice for cal. in Judiciary Committee

  2. 2025-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Judiciary Committee

  3. 2025-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 4/1/2025

  4. 2025-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 4/1/2025

  5. 2025-03-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  6. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 4/2/2025

  7. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/31/2025

  8. 2025-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Judiciary Committee

  9. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/26/2025

  10. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee to 3/26/2025

  11. 2025-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  12. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/19/2025

  13. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee to 3/19/2025

  14. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/12/2025

  15. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  16. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee to 3/12/2025

  17. 2025-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  18. 2025-02-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  19. 2025-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/5/2025

  20. 2025-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  21. 2025-02-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  22. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee

  23. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  24. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee

  25. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Judiciary Committee

  26. 2025-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  27. 2025-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  28. 2025-01-28 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  29. 2025-01-28 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Present law authorizes an individual, corporation, b
usiness entity,
or local, state, or federal government entity or agent thereof to
(i) prohibit
the possession of weapons by any person who is at a meeting conducted by, or on property owned, operated, or managed or under the control of the individual, corp
oration, business entity, or government entity
or (ii) restrict the
possession of weapons by any person who is at a meeting conducted by, or on property owned, operated, or managed or under the control of the individual, corporation, business entity, or go
vernment entity by allowing a handgun to be carried in a concealed manner only by persons authorized to carry a handgun
by law.

Present law provides that it is a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by a sentence of imprisonment not greater than six months or
a fine not to exceed $500, to possess a weapon in a building or on property that is properly posted in accordance with the above provisions. This bill provides that this offense does not apply to
a person who possesses or carries a firearm into an area w
here firearms are not permitted if, upon the request of an individual authorized to control access to the property, the person immediately leaves the property or stores the firearm in a personal vehicle in accordance with
law regarding transporting and sto
ring a firearm or ammunition in a motor vehicle by a permit holder or one who lawfully carries a handgun
.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 441
By Bailey

HOUSE BILL 478
By Butler

HB0478
001433
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39,
Chapter 17, Part 13, relative to firearms.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-17-1359(c), is amended by
adding the following as a new subdivision:
(3) This subsection (c) does not apply to a person who possesses or carries a
firearm into an area where firearms are not permitted under this section if, upon the
request of an individual authorized to control access to the property, the person
immediately leaves the property or stores the firearm in a personal vehicle in accordance
with § 39-17-1313.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it.