The Tennessee Legislature is rushing at an unusual pace to conclude its work for 2025. Reports indicate that this has nothing to do with the successful management of the “People’s Business.” Rather, it appears several Tennessee legislators may be under subpoena to testify in the criminal trial against their formed leader Glen Casada which is expected to go to trial after mid-April. Whether it is a coincidence or not, many bills, not just Second Amendment bills, are being rushed and either given inadequate opportunity for public consideration or moved entirely to 2026.
The TFA’s Bill Status Report indicates that 42 of the 73 bills that TFA is tracking have had activity just this week. Of that number, 22 bills appear to have either failed this week, were taken “off notice” (likely killing them for 2025) or deferred for consideration until 2026. While some of those were bad bills that needed to be stopped, some were good Second Amendment bills that Republican leadership, the Governor, the Department of Safety, TBI and/or the Tennessee Sheriffs Association wanted to stop. (See, for example: SB441/HB478 regarding posted properties; SB474/HB387 regarding health care inquiries about firearms ownership; SB819/HB554 Tennessee Firearms Freedom Act; and SB914/HB883 judicial review of handgun permit revocations).
The TFA’s Calendar report for the week of April 7 lists a bills that need attention (see below). Unfortunately, the report also makes clear that the primary bills to repeal the existing infringements on the Second Amendment in Tennessee have already been derailed by GOP Legislative leaders. Indeed, some might wonder if the truly necessary Second Amendment bills are being killed by GOP legislative leaders because they do not support the Second Amendment or are they killing them because they know TFA supports legislation that repeals laws that violate the Second Amendment?
Bills to Support:
HB1189 (Grills) / SB1227 (Lowe) – this bill would convert Tennessee’s handgun permit to a firearm permit. At present, Tennessee is 1 of 7 states that completely ban the capacity to carry a loaded longarm (with or without a permit). Most states, including every state that touches Tennessee allows that and with over 80% of the nation allowing it, there is no evidence that this creates a problem anywhere. Further, as some legislative supporters have tried to explain to the Governor’s minions from the Department of Safety, “is there really a difference in allowing someone to carry an AR15 pistol, which is allowed, and an AR15 carbine?”
Use this letter writing tool to support this bill – SB1227/HB1189 – Enhanced and concealed firearm carry permits
HB856 (Capley)/SB1407 (Hensley) – this would allow Tennessean’s to property the real property and personal property from looters, rioters, thieves, burglars and trespassers. Current Tennessee law makes it a crime, for example, to even “brandish” a weapon to protect real or personal property.
Use this letter writing tool to support this bill – SB1407/HB856 – Lowers the standard for the use of deadly force to protect property.
HB873 (Fritts) /SB1360 (Hensley) – technical improvements to the existing Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act.
Use this letter writing tool to support this bill – SB1360/HB873 – Civil actions against arms dealers, manufacturers, and sellers.
HJR53 (Reedy) – this is a proposed constitutional amendment that passed the Senate in 2024 but that was killed by Republican House leaders. It has been refiled in 2025. It is written to bring the Tennessee’s constitutional provision into compliance with the 2nd Amendment’s “shall not be infringed” mandate.
Use this letter writing tool to support this resolution – HJR53: Constitutional amendment – right to keep and bear arms.
Bills to Oppose (see calendar for descriptions)
HB468 (Reeves)/ SB163 (Hensley)
HB947 (Brooks)/SB1191 (Akbari)
HB625 (Hardaway)/SB662 (Akbari)
HB1314 (Lamberth)/SB1296 (Johnson)
SB1075 (Johnson) / HB1093 (Sexton)
SB1244 (Massey) / HB1210 (Keisling)
SB1176 (Akbari) / HB1231 (Miller)
SB1184 (Akbari) / HB948 (Brooks)
SB1350 (Akbari) / HB1390 (Pearson)
SB34 (Campbell) / HB599 (Freeman)
SB 642 (Campbell / HB596 (Freeman)
SB43 (Lamar) / HB814 (Miller)
SB957 (Lamar) / HB1082 (Camper)
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