SB1747 • 2026

Criminal Offenses

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39, relative to the discharge of a firearm.

Crime Firearms

Active

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

Sponsor: Bowling, Rudder
Last action: 2026-05-27
Official status: Effective date(s) 07/01/2026
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Criminal Offenses

This bill creates a Class A misdemeanor offense for a person who recklessly discharges a firearm into the air, ground, a body of water, or an object in proximity to the person if the firearm is discharged at a place of public gathering or at a public eve nt where there are at least 25 people in attendance at the time of the discharge.

What This Bill Does

This bill creates a Class A misdemeanor offense for a person who recklessly discharges a firearm into the air, ground, a body of water, or an object in proximity to the person if the firearm is discharged at a place of public gathering or at a public eve nt where there are at least 25 people in attendance at the time of the discharge.
However, this bill clarifies that the offense described above does not apply if the firearm is discharged in any of the following situations:  By an officer of the state, or any county, city, or town, charged with the enforcement of the laws of this state, when in the discharge of the officer's official duties.
 By persons employed by the army, air force, navy, space force, coast guard, or marine service of the United States or any member of the Tennessee national guard when in discharge of the person's official duties and acting under orders requiring the person to carry a firearm.
 As required by an animal control officer, rabies control officer, or Tennessee wildlife resources agency (TWRA) officer when in the discharge of the officer's official duties.

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

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

HA0972

Amendment 1-0 to HB1757

Plain English: House Judiciary 1 Amendment No.

House Judiciary 1 Amendment No.
1 to HB1757 Farmer Signature of Sponsor AMEND Senate Bill No.
1747* House Bill No.
1757 HA0972 016064 - 1 - by deleting all language after the enacting clause and substituting: SECTION 1.

SA0908

Amendment 1-0 to SB1747

Plain English: Senate Judiciary 1 Amendment No.

Senate Judiciary 1 Amendment No.
1 to SB1747 Gardenhire Signature of Sponsor AMEND Senate Bill No.
1747* House Bill No.
1757 SA0908 016064 - 1 - by deleting all language after the enacting clause and substituting: SECTION 1.

Bill History

2026-05-27 Tennessee General Assembly
Effective date(s) 07/01/2026
2026-05-27 Tennessee General Assembly
Pub. Ch. 1086
2026-05-27 Tennessee General Assembly
Comp. became Pub. Ch. 1086
2026-05-22 Tennessee General Assembly
Signed by Governor.
2026-05-11 Tennessee General Assembly
Transmitted to Governor for action.
2026-05-07 Tennessee General Assembly
Signed by H. Speaker
2026-04-30 Tennessee General Assembly
Signed by Senate Speaker
2026-04-30 Tennessee General Assembly
Enrolled and ready for signatures
2026-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly
Passed H., Ayes 63, Nays 18, PNV 9
2026-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly
H. Placed on Regular Calendar 2 for 4/22/2026
2026-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/22/2026
2026-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly
Re-ref. Calendar and Rules Committee
2026-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly
Failed to pass H., Ayes 46, Nays 29, PNV 8
2026-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly
Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA0972)
2026-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly
Subst. for comp. HB.
2026-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly
Sponsor(s) Added.
2026-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly
Comp. SB subst.
2026-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly
H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/16/2026
2026-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/14/2026
2026-04-13 Tennessee General Assembly
Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.
2026-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly
Engrossed; ready for transmission to House
2026-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly
Sponsor(s) Added.
2026-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly
Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 29, Nays 0
2026-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly
Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0908)
2026-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly
Taken off notice for cal. in Calendar & Rules Committee
2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/9/2026
2026-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/9/2026
2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly
Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee
2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly
Sponsor(s) Added.
2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly
Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 9, Nays 0 PNV 0
2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 4/1/2026
2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly
Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Judiciary Committee
2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/25/2026
2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly
Action deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 3/25/2026
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 Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/23/2026
2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/25/2026
2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly
Action Def. in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee to 3/25/2026
2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly
Reset on Final calendar of Senate Judiciary Committee
2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/16/2026
2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/18/2026
2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly
Action Def. in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee to 3/18/2026
2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/11/2026
2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee
2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly
Assigned to s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee
2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly
P2C, ref. to Judiciary Committee
2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly
Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly
Intro., P1C.
2026-01-20 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction
2026-01-16 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

This bill creates a Class A misdemeanor offense for a person who recklessly discharges a firearm into the air, ground, a body of water, or an object in proximity to the person if the firearm is discharged at a place of public gathering or at a public eve
nt where there are at least 25 people in attendance at the time of the discharge.

However, this bill clarifies that the offense described above does not apply if the firearm is discharged in any of the following situations:



By an officer of the state, or any county, city, or town, charged with the enforcement of the laws of this state, when in the discharge of the officer's official duties.



By persons employed by the army, air force, navy, space force, coast guard, or marine service of the United States or any member of the Tennessee national guard when in discharge of the person's official duties and acting under orders requiring the person to carry a firearm.



As required by an animal control officer, rabies control officer, or Tennessee wildlife resources agency (TWRA) officer when in the discharge of the officer's official duties.



To lawfully take wildlife by permit or license during an open season established by the Tennessee wildlife resources agency.



For the control of nuisance wildlife by permit from the TWRA or the United States fish and wildlife service.



On the property of a public or privately owned sport shooting range.



In defense of self or another person against an animal attack if a reasonable person would believe that deadly force against the animal is immediately necessary and reasonable under the circumstances to protect oneself or the other person.



In defense of a domestic animal against an imminent or ongoing animal attack if a reasonable person would believe that deadly force against the animal is immediately necessary and reasonable under the circumstances to protect the domestic animal from attack.

ON APRIL 9, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 1747, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #1 requires a
handgun safety course
required to be completed to receive an enhanced handgun carry permit to include instruction on the provisions in this bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HOUSE BILL 1757
By Rudder

SENATE BILL 1747
By Bowling
SB1747
009294
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39,
relative to the discharge of a firearm.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
(a) A person commits an offense who recklessly discharges a firearm into the
air, ground, a body of water, or an object in proximity to the person if the firearm is
discharged at a place of public gathering or at a public event where there are at least
twenty-five (25) people in attendance at the time of the discharge.
(b) A violation of subsection (a) is a Class A misdemeanor.
(c) This section does not apply if the firearm is discharged:
(1) By an officer of the state, or any county, city, or town, charged with
the enforcement of the laws of this state, when in the discharge of the officer's
official duties;
(2) By persons employed by the army, air force, navy, space force, coast
guard, or marine service of the United States or any member of the Tennessee
national guard when in discharge of the person's official duties and acting under
orders requiring the person to carry a firearm;
(3) As required by an animal control officer, rabies control officer, or
Tennessee wildlife resources agency (TWRA) officer when in the discharge of
the officer's official duties;
(4) To lawfully take wildlife by permit or license during an open season
established by the Tennessee wildlife resources agency;

- 2 - 009294

(5) For the control of nuisance wildlife by permit from the TWRA or the
United States fish and wildlife service;
(6) On the property of a public or privately owned sport shooting range,
as defined in § 39-17-316;
(7) In defense of self or another person against an animal attack if a
reasonable person would believe that deadly force against the animal is
immediately necessary and reasonable under the circumstances to protect
oneself or the other person; or
(8) In defense of a domestic animal against an imminent or ongoing
animal attack if a reasonable person would believe that deadly force against the
animal is immediately necessary and reasonable under the circumstances to
protect the domestic animal from attack.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.