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HB2341 • 2026

Alcoholic Beverages

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 7 and Title 57, relative to events.

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Active

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

Sponsor
Vaughan, Johnson
Last action
2026-04-14
Official status
Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/14/2026
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official summary does not provide details on enforcement mechanisms or the specifics of acceptable proof.

Alcoholic Beverage Rules for Events

This bill changes Tennessee laws to prohibit giving alcohol to minors at private events and requires event organizers to prove they have taken steps to prevent serving alcohol to underage attendees.

What This Bill Does

  • Makes it illegal to give, serve, or hand out alcoholic drinks to anyone under 21 years old at a private party or event.
  • Requires the person in charge of an event where alcohol is served to show proof that they have taken steps to prevent serving alcohol to underage attendees.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who host private parties or events with alcohol
  • Event owners and operators

Terms To Know

Private party or event
A gathering that is not open to the public, like a birthday party at home.
Owner or operator of an event
The person in charge of organizing and running the event.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify what kind of proof is considered satisfactory.
  • It's unclear how this law will be enforced at private events.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

Amendment 1-0 to HB2341

Plain English: The amendment adds new rules for selling and consuming alcoholic beverages in special event zones with large populations.

  • Defines 'premises' to include areas near licensed establishments approved by temporary special event zone ordinances in counties with over 500,000 residents.
  • Allows the sale of alcohol in special cups designed for events, which must be purchased from a designated permit holder and labeled with the name of the establishment that sold it.
  • Limits the sale of these special cups to only the organization named in the event zone ordinance.
  • The amendment uses technical legal language that may be hard for some people to understand fully without additional context.
Amendment 1-0 to SB2452

Plain English: The amendment adds new rules for allowing alcohol consumption in specific areas during special events in large cities with certain types of government.

  • Defines 'premises' to include licensed establishments and public spaces within a central business improvement district in large metropolitan counties, as approved by a temporary special event zone ordinance.
  • Allows the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages only for the duration of an approved special event and requires them to be served in specially designed cups.
  • Specifies that 'temporary special event zone ordinance' is an official approval from local government defining the area and events where alcohol can be consumed.
  • The amendment text does not specify all details about how these rules will be implemented or enforced, leaving some aspects unclear.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/14/2026

  2. 2026-04-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee

  3. 2026-04-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/15/2026

  4. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 4/13/2026

  5. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 4/15/2026

  6. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 4/8/2026

  7. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to State & Local Government Committee

  8. 2026-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) withdrawn.

  9. 2026-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor change.

  10. 2026-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 7, Nays 1 PNV 0

  11. 2026-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  12. 2026-03-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/31/2026

  13. 2026-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Departments & Agencies Subcommittee for 4/1/2026

  14. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/31/2026

  15. 2026-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate State and Local Government Committee

  16. 2026-03-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  17. 2026-03-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Approved by Delayed Bills Committee

  18. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Departments & Agencies Subcommittee

  19. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to State & Local Government Committee

  20. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  21. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  22. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Refer to Senate Delayed Bills Committee

  23. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 2452
By Johnson

HOUSE BILL 2341
By Vaughan
HB2341
012748
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 7 and
Title 57, relative to events.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 57-4-101(o), is amended by deleting
the subsection and substituting:
(o) It is lawful to furnish, dispense, or give away alcoholic beverages and beer
without a license or permit issued by the commission at a private party or private event;
provided, that a person at such party or event shall not furnish, dispense, or give away
alcoholic beverages or beer to a person who is not twenty-one (21) years of age or
older.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 57-4-101(g)(2), is amended by
adding the following language at the end of the subdivision:
The owner or operator of the event shall submit with the request for approval for
the event proof satisfactory that the owner or operator has taken reasonable
steps to ensure that alcoholic beverages are not served to persons who are not
twenty-one (21) years of age or older in attendance at the event.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.