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SB1847 • 2026

Firearms and Ammunition

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

Agriculture Firearms
Active

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

Sponsor
Hensley, Capley
Last action
2026-04-14
Official status
Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/16/2026
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The candidate statement about not allowing deadly force when the trespasser is facing away was redundant as it's already covered in the official bill text.

Law to Change Property Protection Rules

This bill changes Tennessee's laws about when people can use deadly force to protect their property.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows people who own or have control over property to use deadly force if they think it is necessary to stop someone from trespassing, damaging the property, or stealing things like livestock.
  • Lets people who were forced off their land by another person's threats or actions use deadly force to get back onto the land or recover lost property immediately after being dispossessed.
  • Requires that a person believes there are no other ways to protect their property without risking serious harm to themselves or others before using deadly force.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who own or have control over real or personal property in Tennessee.
  • Individuals who might be threatened with deadly force for trespassing, damaging property, or stealing livestock.

Terms To Know

Deadly Force
Using actions that could cause death or serious injury to protect property.
Trespass
Entering someone's land without permission.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if the person using deadly force is mistaken about the threat.
  • It is unclear how this change will affect current laws on self-defense and property protection in Tennessee.
  • The exact impact on law enforcement practices regarding property crimes remains to be seen.

Amendments

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

Amendment 1-0 to HB1802

Plain English: The amendment changes Tennessee law to allow people to use deadly force to protect their property under certain conditions.

  • Adds new rules for when a person can use deadly force to defend their property against arson, burglary, robbery, aggravated robbery, or cruelty to animals.
  • Specifies that deadly force is justified if the person believes it's necessary and no other means of protection are available.
  • Includes situations where using non-deadly force would put someone at risk of serious harm.
  • The exact circumstances under which deadly force can be used to protect property may still require interpretation by courts.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/16/2026

  2. 2026-04-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  3. 2026-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  4. 2026-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate Reset on calendar for 4/16/2026

  5. 2026-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  6. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  7. 2026-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/9/2026

  8. 2026-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  9. 2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  10. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  11. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  12. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  13. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  14. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  15. 2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee

  16. 2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  17. 2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  18. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  19. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  20. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  21. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  22. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  23. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  24. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  25. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  26. 2026-02-18 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  27. 2026-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  28. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee

  29. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee

  30. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Judiciary Committee

  31. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  32. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  33. 2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  34. 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 the other's trespass on the l
and 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 trespass on real estate or unlawfu
l 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 t
he person reasonably believes
t
he property cannot be protected or the other's actions terminated by any other means
,
or
t
he 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.

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.