HB2376 • 2026

Firearms and Ammunition

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 5; Title 7; Title 8, Chapter 8 and Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13, relative to firearms.

Firearms

Active

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

Sponsor: Doggett, Hensley
Last action: 2026-04-14
Official status: Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not specify the exact requirements for the secure storage lockers beyond them being 'separate, secured, lockable'.

Firearm Storage for Courthouse Visitors

This bill allows county sheriffs to provide free secure storage lockers for individuals who are legally carrying firearms and need to enter courthouses where guns are restricted or prohibited.

What This Bill Does

Changes the law to allow county sheriffs to offer free firearm storage lockers near courthouse entrances if carrying firearms is restricted or not allowed in a courthouse.

Who It Names or Affects

People who are legally allowed to carry firearms but need to enter courthouses where guns are restricted or prohibited.
County sheriffs responsible for providing the storage lockers.

Terms To Know

Firearm: A weapon, such as a gun, that uses ammunition and is designed to fire projectiles.
Sheriff: The chief law enforcement officer in a county who has duties including public safety and security.

Limits and Unknowns

Does not specify what happens if the lockers are full or unavailable.
Does not explain how sheriffs will be funded to provide these services.

Bill History

2026-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly
Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.
2026-04-13 Tennessee General Assembly
Passed Senate, Ayes 27, Nays 2, PNV 1
2026-04-13 Tennessee General Assembly
Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.
2026-04-13 Tennessee General Assembly
Sponsor(s) Added.
2026-04-13 Tennessee General Assembly
Companion House Bill substituted
2026-04-10 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/13/2026
2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly
Received from House, Passed on First Consideration
2026-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly
Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.
2026-03-30 Tennessee General Assembly
Sponsor(s) Added.
2026-03-30 Tennessee General Assembly
Passed H., Ayes 82, Nays 1, PNV 10
2026-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly
H. Placed on Consent Calendar for 3/30/2026
2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 3/26/2026
2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly
Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee
2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly
Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee
2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/24/2026
2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly
Action deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 3/24/2026
2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/23/2026
2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly
Action def. in Judiciary Committee to 3/25/2026
2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/23/2026
2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/18/2026
2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly
Action def. in Judiciary Committee to 3/18/2026
2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/11/2026
2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly
Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Judiciary Committee
2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Civil Justice Subcommittee for 3/4/2026
2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly
Assigned to s/c Civil Justice Subcommittee
2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly
P2C, ref. to Judiciary Committee
2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee
2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly
Intro., P1C.
2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction
2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly
Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Generally, present law prohibits a
person
from
intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly carry
ing
on or about the person while inside any building in which judicial proceedings are in progress
certain weapons
for the purpose of going armed
. However,
if the weapon carried is a firearm, the person is in violation of this
provision
regardless of whether the weapon is carried for the purpose of going armed.

If the possession of a firearm in a county courthouse is restricted or prohibited
, this bill authorizes
the sheriff of the county
to
provide secure storage lockers for those individuals who are
lawfully
carrying a firearm
to
store the firearm in separate
,
secured, lockable storage units at or near a designated public entrance to the building or structure at no cost to the individual.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SENATE BILL 2352
By Hensley

HOUSE BILL 2376
By Doggett
HB2376
012297
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 5;
Title 7; Title 8, Chapter 8 and 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, is amended by adding
the following as a new subsection:
(h) If the possession of a firearm in a county courthouse is restricted or
prohibited pursuant to subsection (g) or § 39-17-1306, then the sheriff of the county may
provide secure storage lockers for those individuals who are carrying a firearm pursuant
to § 39-17-1351, § 39-17-1366, or § 39-17-1307 to store the firearm in separate secured,
lockable storage units at or near a designated public entrance to the building or structure
at no cost to the individual.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.