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SB0474 • 2026

Medical Occupations

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 63 and Title 68, relative to healthcare providers.

Firearms Healthcare
Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor
Bowling, Butler
Last action
2026-03-18
Official status
Failed in Senate Health and Welfare Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The candidate explanation includes claims about patient privacy that are not directly supported by the provided official source material.

Bill to Restrict Healthcare Providers' Inquiry About Firearm Ownership

This bill prohibits healthcare providers from asking patients about firearm ownership and related information unless necessary for medical care or safety, and it penalizes violations with disciplinary actions and fines.

What This Bill Does

  • Prevents healthcare providers from asking patients if they own firearms, ammunition, or accessories.
  • Stops healthcare providers from requiring patients to disclose firearm-related information before receiving treatment.
  • Prohibits healthcare providers from denying future treatments based on a patient's ownership of firearms or related items.
  • Restricts healthcare providers from entering firearm-related information into patient records unless it is relevant for medical care or safety.
  • Forbids healthcare providers from sharing firearm-related information with insurance companies.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Healthcare providers, including doctors and hospitals
  • Patients who own firearms

Terms To Know

Healthcare provider
A doctor, hospital, or other medical professional or facility.
Licensed psychiatrist or psychologist
Mental health professionals who are certified to practice in Tennessee.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not apply to licensed psychiatrists and psychologists.
  • It is unclear how the bill will be enforced or what specific disciplinary actions might be taken against violators.
  • The bill did not pass, so it has no legal effect as of now.

Amendments

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

Amendment 1-0 to SB0474

Plain English: This amendment adds a new section to Tennessee law that restricts healthcare providers from asking patients about their firearm ownership, possession, or access unless it is relevant to medical care or safety.

  • Healthcare providers are prohibited from inquiring about a patient's firearm ownership, possession, or access except when relevant to the patient’s medical care or safety.
  • If healthcare providers do ask such questions, they must inform patients that there is no legal duty to answer these inquiries.
  • Violations of this section by healthcare providers can result in disciplinary action and fines.
  • The amendment does not specify the exact circumstances under which firearm information might be considered relevant to medical care or safety, leaving some ambiguity for healthcare providers.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  2. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Failed in Senate Health and Welfare Committee

  3. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Health and Welfare Committee calendar for 3/18/2026

  4. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Health and Welfare Committee to 3/18/2026

  5. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Health and Welfare Committee calendar for 3/17/2026

  6. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Health and Welfare Committee to 3/18/2026

  7. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Health and Welfare Committee calendar for 3/11/2026

  8. 2026-02-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Health Committee to the Special Calendar to Published with the Final Calendar

  9. 2026-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Health and Welfare Committee to 3/11/2026

  10. 2026-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Health Committee for 2/17/2026

  11. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Health and Welfare Committee calendar for 2/11/2026

  12. 2026-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Health Committee to 2/17/2026

  13. 2026-01-28 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Health Committee for 2/3/2026

  14. 2026-01-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Meeting Canceled

  15. 2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Health Committee for 1/27/2026

  16. 2025-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Health Committee to First Calendar of 2026

  17. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Health & Welfare Committee to second calendar of 2026

  18. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Health Committee for 4/1/2025

  19. 2025-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Health Committee to 4/1/2025

  20. 2025-03-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  21. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Health and Welfare Committee calendar for 3/26/2025

  22. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Health Committee for 3/25/2025

  23. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  24. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Health Subcommittee for 3/19/2025

  25. 2025-02-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  26. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Health and Welfare Committee

  27. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  28. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Health Subcommittee

  29. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Health Committee

  30. 2025-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  31. 2025-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  32. 2025-01-29 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  33. 2025-01-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

This bill prohibits a
healthcare provider
from doing any of the following:



Inquir
ing
as to the patient's ownership, possession of, or access to firearm ammunition or firearm accessories
.



Requir
ing
information described
above
to be disclosed before providing treatment to the patient
.



Deny
ing
future treatment of a patient based upon a patient's ownership or control of a firearm, firearm ammunition, or firearm accessories
.



Enter
ing
, or have another enter
ing
, information described
above
into a patient's record unless the information is relevant to the patient's medical care or safety or the safety of others
.



Shar
ing
the information described
above
with an insurer.

As used in this bill, a "healthcare provider" includes
an employee, assistant, or contractor of such professional, establishment, or facility; and
d
oes not include a
licensed
psychiatrist or psychologist.

This bill prohibits a
healthcare provider
from
di
scriminat
ing
against a patient based upon the patient's exercise of the constitutional right to own and possess a firearm, firearm ammunition, or firearm accessories.

If a healthcare provider does inquire as to the patient's ownership, possession of, or a
ccess to firearm ammunition or firearm accessories, then the healthcare provider
must
provide written notice to the patient that the patient has no duty to respond to the inquiry.

This bill provides that a
healthcare provider who violates
this bill
is guilty of unethical conduct and is subject to
(i) d
isciplinary action by the healthcare provider's licensing authority; and

(
ii
)
a
fine of $1,000 per violation.

In addition to other penalties available to the provider's licensing authority, the health
care provider's licensing authority may take disciplinary action and seek injunctive or other relief as appropriate against that healthcare provider or an entity for a violation of this
bill
.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 387
By Butler

SENATE BILL 474
By Bowling

SB0474
001897
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 63
and Title 68, relative to healthcare providers.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 63, Chapter 1, Part 1, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
(a) As used in this section, "healthcare provider":
(1) Has the same meaning as defined in § 63-1-117(k);
(2) Includes an employee, assistant, or contractor of such professional,
establishment, or facility; and
(3) Does not include a psychiatrist or psychologist licensed pursuant to
chapter 6 or 11 of this title.
(b) A healthcare provider shall not:
(1) Inquire as to the patient's ownership, possession of, or access to
firearm ammunition or firearm accessories;
(2) Require information described in subdivision (b)(1) to be disclosed
before providing treatment to the patient;
(3) Deny future treatment of a patient based upon a patient's ownership
or control of a firearm, firearm ammunition, or firearm accessories;
(4) Enter, or have another enter, information described in subdivision
(b)(1) into a patient's record unless the information is relevant to the patient's
medical care or safety or the safety of others; or
(5) Share the information described in subdivision (b)(1) with an insurer.

- 2 - 001897

(c) A healthcare provider shall not discriminate against a patient based upon the
patient's exercise of the constitutional right to own and possess a firearm, firearm
ammunition, or firearm accessories.
(d) If a healthcare provider does inquire as to the patient's ownership,
possession of, or access to firearm ammunition or firearm accessories, then the
healthcare provider shall provide written notice to the patient that the patient has no duty
to respond to the inquiry.
(e)
(1) A healthcare provider who violates subsection (b) or (c) is guilty of
unethical conduct and is subject to:
(A) Disciplinary action by the healthcare provider's licensing
authority; and
(B) A fine of one thousand dollars ($1,000) per violation.
(2) In addition to other penalties available to the provider's licensing
authority, the healthcare provider's licensing authority may take disciplinary
action and seek injunctive or other relief as appropriate against that healthcare
provider or an entity for a violation of this section.
SECTION 2. If any provision of this act or the application of any provision of this act to
any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or
applications of the act that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to
that end, the provisions of this act are severable.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it, and
applies to conduct occurring on or after that date.