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SB1847 • 2026

Firearms and Ammunition

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39, relative to the defense of property.

Crime Firearms
Active

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

Sponsor
Hensley, Capley
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.

Firearms and Ammunition

Present law provides that a person in lawful possession of real or personal property is justified in threatening or using force against another, when and to the degree it is reasonably believed the force is immediately necessary to prevent or terminate th e other's trespass on the land or unlawful interference with the property.

What This Bill Does

  • Present law provides that a person in lawful possession of real or personal property is justified in threatening or using force against another, when and to the degree it is reasonably believed the force is immediately necessary to prevent or terminate th e other's trespass on the land or unlawful interference with the property.
  • However, unless a person is justified in using deadly force as otherwise provided by law, a person is not justified in using deadly force to prevent or terminate the other's tresp as s on real estate or unlawful interference with personal property.
  • This bill generally authorizes a person to use deadly force for the protection of property against another in the following situations:  If a person in lawful possession of real or personal property reasonably believed the force is immediately necessary to prevent or terminate the other's trespass on the land or unlawful interference with the property.
  •  If a person who has been unlawfully dispossessed of real or personal property reasonably believed the force is immediately necessary to reenter the land or recover the property, if the person threatens or uses the force immediately or in fresh pursuit after the dispossession that the other had no claim of right when the other dispossessed the person, and the other accomplished the dispossession by threatening or using force against the person.

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.

Amendment 1-0 to HB1802

Plain English: House Judiciary 1 Amendment No.

  • House Judiciary 1 Amendment No.
  • 1 to HB1802 Farmer Signature of Sponsor AMEND Senate Bill No.
  • 1847* House Bill No.
  • 1802 HA1054 013376 - 1 - by deleting all language after the enacting clause and substituting: SECTION 1.

Bill History

  1. 2026-05-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Effective date(s) 07/01/2026

  2. 2026-05-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Pub. Ch. 1100

  3. 2026-05-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. became Pub. Ch. 1100

  4. 2026-05-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Governor.

  5. 2026-05-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Transmitted to Governor for action.

  6. 2026-05-07 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by H. Speaker

  7. 2026-04-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Senate Speaker

  8. 2026-04-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Enrolled and ready for signatures

  9. 2026-04-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Concurred, Ayes 23, Nays 5 (Amendment 1 - HA1054)

  10. 2026-04-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate Reset on next message calendar

  11. 2026-04-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Message Calendar 3 for 4/23/2026

  12. 2026-04-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed H., as am., Ayes 62, Nays 24, PNV 3

  13. 2026-04-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA1054)

  14. 2026-04-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Subst. for comp. HB.

  15. 2026-04-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  16. 2026-04-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. SB subst.

  17. 2026-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  18. 2026-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/23/2026

  19. 2026-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Reset on cal. for 4/23/2026

  20. 2026-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  21. 2026-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

  22. 2026-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate, Ayes 21, Nays 5, PNV 1

  23. 2026-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/22/2026

  24. 2026-04-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/21/2026

  25. 2026-04-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  26. 2026-04-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate Reset on calendar for 4/21/2026

  27. 2026-04-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/16/2026

  28. 2026-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/16/2026

  29. 2026-04-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  30. 2026-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  31. 2026-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate Reset on calendar for 4/16/2026

  32. 2026-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/13/2026

  33. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/9/2026

  34. 2026-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/9/2026

  35. 2026-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  36. 2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  37. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 4/7/2026

  38. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  39. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Judiciary Committee to 4/8/2026

  40. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 4/1/2026

  41. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  42. 2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee

  43. 2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/24/2026

  44. 2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 3/24/2026

  45. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/23/2026

  46. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/25/2026

  47. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee to 3/25/2026

  48. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/18/2026

  49. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee to 3/18/2026

  50. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/11/2026

  51. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee to 3/11/2026

  52. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/4/2026

  53. 2026-02-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee to 3/4/2026

  54. 2026-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 2/18/2026

  55. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee

  56. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee

  57. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Judiciary Committee

  58. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  59. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  60. 2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  61. 2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Present law provides that a person in lawful possession of real or personal property is justified in threatening or using force against another, when and to the degree it is reasonably believed the force is immediately necessary to prevent or terminate th
e other's trespass on the land or unlawful interference with the property. However, unless a person is justified in using deadly force as otherwise provided by law, a person is not justified in using deadly force to prevent or terminate the other's tresp
as
s on real estate or unlawful interference with personal property.

This bill generally authorizes a person to use deadly force for the protection of property against another in the following situations:



If a person in lawful possession of real or personal property reasonably believed the force is immediately necessary to prevent or terminate the other's trespass on the land or unlawful interference with the property.



If a person who has been unlawfully dispossessed of real or personal property reasonably believed the force is immediately necessary to reenter the land or recover the property, if the person threatens or uses the force immediately or in fresh pursuit after the dispossession that the other had no claim of right when the other dispossessed the person, and the other accomplished the dispossession by threatening or using force against the person.



When the person reasonably believes deadly force is immediately necessary to prevent or terminate the other's actual or attempted trespass; arson; damage to property, including damage to livestock, burglary, theft, robbery, or aggravated cruelty to animals.



When the person reasonably believes the property cannot be protected or the other's actions terminated by any other means, or the use of force other than deadly force to protect or terminate the other's actions would expose the person or a third person to a risk of death or serious bodily injury.

However, this bill does not justify a person in using deadly force against another individual under this bill if the individual is facing away from the person.

ON APRIL 23, 2026, THE HOUSE SUBSTITUTED SENATE BILL 1847 FOR HOUSE BILL 1802, ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1, AND PASSED SENATE BILL 1847, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #1 makes the following revisions:



Removes that the bill generally authorizes a person to use deadly force for the protection of property against another in the certain situations outlined in the bill summary and, instead, provides that a person who (i) is not engaged in conduct that would constitute a felony or a Class A misdemeanor and (ii) is in a place where the person lawfully resides is justified in using deadly force against another to protect property in certain situations.



Removes the third bullet in the bill summary and, instead, justifies the use of deadly forced when the requirements in the preceding paragraph are met and when and to the degree the person reasonably believes deadly force is immediately necessary to prevent the other's imminent commission of arson, burglary, robbery, aggravated robbery, or aggravated cruelty to animals.



Justifies the use of deadly forced when such requirements are met and there is an imminent danger to the person or a third person of death, serious bodily injury, or grave sexual abuse;



Adds that a person is also justified when the use of force other than deadly force to protect or terminate the other's actions would expose the person or a third person to grave sexual abuse.



Removes that a person is not justified in using deadly force against another individual under the bill if the individual is facing away from the person.



Adds a severability clause to the bill.



Changes the effective date of the bill from upon becoming a law to, instead, July 1, 2026.

ON APRIL 23, 2026, THE SENATE
CONCURRED IN HOUSE AMENDMENT #1
.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 1802
By Capley

SENATE BILL 1847
By Hensley
SB1847
011690
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39,
relative to the defense of property.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-11-614, is amended by deleting
subsection (c) and substituting instead the following:
(c)
(1) Except as provided in subdivision (c)(2), a person is justified in using
deadly force against another:
(A) If the person would be justified in using force against another
under subsection (a) or (b);
(B) When and to the degree the person reasonably believes
deadly force is immediately necessary to prevent or terminate the other's
actual or attempted trespass; arson; damage to property, including
damage to livestock; burglary; theft; robbery; or aggravated cruelty to
animals; and
(C) The person reasonably believes:
(i) The property cannot be protected or the other's actions
terminated by any other means; or
(ii) The use of force other than deadly force to protect or
terminate the other's actions would expose the person or a third
person to a risk of death or serious bodily injury.
(2) A person is not justified in using deadly force against another
individual under this section if the individual is facing away from the person.

- 2 - 011690

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.