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SB0349 • 2026

Law Enforcement

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 38; Title 39 and Title 62, Chapter 35, relative to private protective services.

Active

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

Sponsor
Lowe, McCalmon
Last action
2025-04-02
Official status
Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Judiciary Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official summary and text do not provide specific details about the fiscal impact or the exact number of affected businesses, leaving some uncertainty in those areas.

Private Protective Services Exemption for Reserve Law Enforcement

This bill changes Tennessee laws to exempt commissioned reserve deputy sheriffs and auxiliary police officers from private protective services licensing requirements if they work as guards or patrol under a contract with a properly licensed private business.

What This Bill Does

  • Adds an exemption in the law for commissioned reserve deputy sheriffs and auxiliary police officers who receive compensation for guard, patrol, or watchperson services under a contract with a properly licensed private business from certain licensing requirements.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Commissioned reserve deputy sheriffs working for private companies
  • Auxiliary police officers working for private businesses
  • Private businesses that hire commissioned reserve deputies or auxiliary police

Terms To Know

private protective services
Services provided by people hired to protect property, such as security guards.
commissioned reserve deputy sheriff
A volunteer who helps the regular police but is not a full-time officer and has received specific training or certification.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how much money it will save or cost.
  • It's unclear exactly how many private businesses this change will affect.

Amendments

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

Amendment 1-0 to HB0378

Plain English: The amendment changes Tennessee's laws about private protective services to allow certain reserve police officers to work for private businesses without needing additional licensing.

  • Changes Section 62-35-103(a) of the Tennessee Code Annotated by specifying that requirements to obtain a license or registration under this chapter do not apply to commissioned reserve deputy sheriffs and auxiliary police officers who are compensated for services as guards, patrol officers, or watchpersons under contracts with private businesses.
  • Adds a new subdivision ( ) to Section 62-35-103(a) of the Tennessee Code Annotated that exempts certain reserve police officers from licensing requirements if they work for private businesses.
  • The amendment text does not specify all details about how these exemptions will be implemented or enforced, which may leave some questions unanswered.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Withdrawn.

  2. 2025-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Judiciary Committee

  3. 2025-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Commerce Committee to First Calendar of 2026

  4. 2025-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 4/2/2025

  5. 2025-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 4/2/2025

  6. 2025-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  7. 2025-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  8. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  9. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  10. 2025-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  11. 2025-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/25/2025

  12. 2025-03-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Re-ref. Commerce Committee

  13. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/24/2025

  14. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 3/20/2025

  15. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  16. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  17. 2025-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Commerce Committee for 3/5/2025

  18. 2025-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  19. 2025-02-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Business & Utilities Subcommittee for 2/26/2025

  20. 2025-02-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Business and Utilities Subcommittee to 2/26/2025

  21. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee

  22. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Business & Utilities Subcommittee for 2/19/2025

  23. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  24. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Business & Utilities Subcommittee

  25. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Commerce Committee

  26. 2025-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  27. 2025-01-28 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  28. 2025-01-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 378
By McCalmon

SENATE BILL 349
By Lowe

SB0349
001865
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 38;
Title 39 and Title 62, Chapter 35, relative to private
protective services.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 62-35-103(a), is amended by adding
the following as a new subdivision:
( ) A commissioned reserve deputy sheriff or commissioned reserve or auxiliary
police officer receiving compensation for services as a guard, patrol, or watchperson
under a contract with a private business that is properly licensed by the state;
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.