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HB1508 • 2026

Handgun Permits

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 38 and Title 39, relative to enhanced handgun carry permits.

Firearms
Active

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

Sponsor
Warner, Hensley
Last action
2026-04-08
Official status
Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2026
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and text do not provide specific details on funding or issuance limits, leaving these points uncertain.

Handgun Permits for Retired Law Enforcement Officers

This bill changes Tennessee's handgun permit rules to allow retired police officers who served less than ten years and were injured on duty to get a lifetime enhanced handgun carry permit without paying fees.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the requirements for retired law enforcement officers to qualify for fee-free lifetime enhanced handgun carry permits.
  • Allows retired officers with less than ten years of service, POST-certified or equivalent training, and who were injured on duty, to get a free lifetime permit.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Retired law enforcement officers in Tennessee
  • The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security

Terms To Know

POST-certified
Certified by the Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) program, which sets training standards for police officers.
Enhanced handgun carry permit
A special type of handgun permit that allows individuals to carry concealed weapons in certain places where it would normally be prohibited.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how the fee waiver will be funded.
  • It is unclear if there are any limits on the number of permits issued under this new rule.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2026

  2. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.

  3. 2026-03-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

  4. 2026-03-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  5. 2026-03-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate, Ayes 33, Nays 0

  6. 2026-03-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Consent Calendar 2 for 3/30/2026

  7. 2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee

  8. 2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/24/2026

  9. 2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 3/24/2026

  10. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee to Final Calendar No. 2

  11. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/23/2026

  12. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 3/18/2026

  13. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee to 3/18/2026

  14. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 3/11/2026

  15. 2026-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee

  16. 2026-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass; ref to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

  17. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 2/11/2026

  18. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  19. 2026-01-28 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Civil Justice Subcommittee for 2/4/2026

  20. 2026-01-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Meeting Canceled

  21. 2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Civil Justice Subcommittee for 1/28/2026

  22. 2026-01-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee

  23. 2026-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Civil Justice Subcommittee

  24. 2026-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Judiciary Committee

  25. 2026-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  26. 2026-01-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  27. 2026-01-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  28. 2026-01-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
SENATE BILL 1628
By Hensley

HOUSE BILL 1508
By Warner
HB1508
010857
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 38
and Title 39, relative to enhanced handgun carry
permits.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-17-1351, is amended by deleting
subdivision (x)(5)(B) and substituting:
(B)
(i) Served for at least ten (10) years prior to retirement and was POST-
certified, or had equivalent training, on the date the officer retired; or
(ii) Served less than ten (10) years prior to retirement, was POST-
certified, or had equivalent training, on the date the officer retired, and retired
from service due to an injury received in the line of duty as a law enforcement
officer;
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.