Tennessee Senate Bills

Immigration - As introduced, prohibits the use of certain public properties, schools, and religious institutions for certain civil immigration enforcement activities; requires state departments and agencies to make available to the public certain information concerning person's rights with regard to federal agents. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 7, Chapter 68; Title 12; Title 38; Title 49 and Title 50, Chapter 1.

Alcoholic Beverages - As introduced, authorizes the issuance of a retail package store license to an operator within the general services district of a metropolitan government that has approved the retail sale of liquor for off-premises consumption by local option election. - Amends TCA Title 7 and Title 57.

Firearms and Ammunition - As introduced, requires a gun dealer to ensure that three days have passed since the transaction was initiated by the purchaser before transferring a firearm to a purchaser if the purchaser is older than 17 but younger than 21. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13.

Search & Seizure - As introduced, requires officials who are employed or contracted by the federal government, the state government, or a local government within this state, or an agency or department thereof, to obtain a search warrant that identifies the person or property that is the subject of the search before entering private property, unless a judicially recognized exception to the warrant requirement exists. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 8; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40 and Title 44.

Constitutional Amendments - Proposes an amendment to Article I, Section 26 of the Constitution of Tennessee to enshrine permitless carry in this state by clarifying that citizens have a right to keep and bear arms in public without a permit or license and to delete provision that authorizes the legislature to regulate the wearing of arms with a view to prevent crime. -

Constitutional Amendments - Proposes an amendment to Article I of the Constitution of Tennessee to prohibit the state from compelling a person to undergo medical treatment, even in the case of a declared state emergency. -

Constitutional Amendments - Proposes constitutional amendment to Article XI, Section 5 of the Tennessee Constitution to allow the general assembly to authorize the entity operating the state lottery to develop lottery games to be used exclusively to fund veterans' services. -

Firearms and Ammunition - As introduced, enacts the "Tennessee Voluntary Do Not Sell Firearms Act," which permits a person to voluntarily waive their firearm rights through filing a waiver with the clerk of the circuit court in the county of the person's residence; specifies procedures the clerk, TBI, and department of safety must follow upon receipt of a waiver. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 3; Section 10-7-504 and Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13.

Law Enforcement - As introduced, requires a law enforcement officer initiating a traffic stop or pedestrian stop, on or after January 1, 2026, to inform the person stopped of the reason for the stop before engaging the person in questioning related to an investigation of a possible criminal offense or traffic violation; permits the officer to withhold such information if the officer believes that doing so is necessary to protect life or property from an imminent threat. - Amends TCA Title 38; Title 39 and Title 40.

Medical Occupations - As introduced, extends from 30 business days to 60 business days the period of time an individual, applicant, licensee, certificate holder, or registrant has to file a petition in Davidson County chancery court following receipt of a notice from a health-related licensing authority that the authority is denying an application for or refusing to renew a license, certificate, or registration on the basis of a prior criminal conviction. - Amends TCA Title 39; Title 40; Title 63 and Title 68.

Criminal Offenses - As introduced, enacts the "Fair Background Check and Due Process Act." - Amends TCA Title 37; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40; Title 47; Title 50; Title 62; Title 66 and Title 71.

Firearms and Ammunition - As introduced, changes from February 1 to February 15 the date by which the Tennessee bureau of investigation must report excess money collected pursuant to background check fees charged to gun dealers. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 8; Title 10; Title 16; Title 33; Title 36; Title 37; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40; Title 45; Title 49; Title 50; Title 55; Title 62; Title 67 and Title 70.

Expunction - As introduced, extends the time period within which a court ordering the expunction of a person's public records of a criminal offense must send a copy of the expunction order to the Tennessee bureau of investigation from 30 days to 45 days. - Amends TCA Section 8-21-401 and Title 40.

Evidence - As introduced, adds a rebuttable presumption that the criteria for a child victim to testify by two-way closed circuit television in a criminal matter involving certain offenses are met if the child is under 13 years of age. - Amends TCA Title 24, Chapter 7 and Title 39.

Sentencing - As introduced, establishes parole criteria for certain persons convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to imprisonment for life; specifies that if a person is convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to imprisonment for life, then the sentence must automatically expire after the person has served 40 years. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 13 and Title 40, Chapter 35.

Privacy, Confidentiality - As introduced, enacts the "Protecting Everyone from Excessive Police Surveillance (PEEPS) Act" for the purposes of protecting, maintaining, and accessing historical location data. - Amends TCA Title 10; Title 24 and Title 38.

Juvenile Offenders - As introduced, deletes an obsolete statute requiring the administrative office of the courts, department of children's services, and the commission on children and youth to jointly submit a report on juvenile justice data collection by January 1, 2019. - Amends TCA Title 36; Title 37 and Title 39.

Courts, Administrative Office of the - As introduced, enacts the "Tennessee Court Appearance Reminder Program Act." - Amends TCA Title 16 and Title 40.

Judicial Districts - As introduced, creates an additional criminal court in the thirtieth judicial district to be designated as part IX; requires the governor to appoint a criminal court judge to serve until the person's successor is elected at the August 2028 general election. - Amends TCA Title 16, Chapter 2.

Sheriffs - As introduced, prohibits the county legislative body of a county with a charter form of government from adopting a budget that reduces the budget for the sheriff below the budgeted amount for the previous fiscal year unless the reduction is approved in writing by the sheriff; authorizes a sheriff to approve or disapprove a budget amendment that would reduce personnel, operational, or capital expenditures below the level proposed by the sheriff; authorizes the county legislative body to override the sheriff's disapproval by a two-thirds vote. - Amends TCA Title 5, Chapter 1, Part 2; Title 5, Chapter 9, Part 4 and Title 8, Chapter 20, Part 1.

Landlord and Tenant - As introduced, states that unlawful detainer actions are confidential and shielded from public inspection if the action was filed on or after July 1, 2026, the case was dismissed by the court or a party, an appeal is not pending in the case, and three years have passed since the date the action was filed or the parties have agreed in writing to shield the records from public disclosure. - Amends TCA Title 10, Chapter 7, Part 5; Title 29, Chapter 18 and Title 66.

Immigration - As introduced, enacts the "Tennessee Private Workplace Due Process and Warrant Protection Act." - Amends TCA Title 7; Title 8; Title 38; Title 50; Title 62 and Title 66.

Real Property - As introduced, enacts the "Tennessee Private Property Vesting Rights of 2026," which entitles a property owner to just compensation from a public entity if the public entity enacts a land use regulation that has the effect of reducing the fair market value of the property. - Amends TCA Title 29, Chapter 16.

Health Care - As introduced, requires the secretary of state to place an advisory ballot question on the November general election ballot in 2026 regarding the legalization of a regulated medical cannabis program. - Amends TCA Title 2; Title 4; Title 39; Title 43; Title 53; Title 57; Title 63; Title 67 and Title 68.

Criminal Offenses - As introduced, adds the advisement or encouragement to commit suicide to the offense of assisted suicide under certain circumstances. - Amends TCA Title 39.

Criminal Procedure - As introduced, restores the right of suffrage for persons convicted of an infamous crime after expiration of the sentence imposed for the infamous crime; removes requirement that the person pay restitution and court costs and be current in all child support obligations before having the person's right of suffrage restored; permits a person to have the right of suffrage restored without having the person's full rights of citizenship restored. - Amends TCA Title 2 and Title 40.

Firearms and Ammunition - As introduced, allows a court to issue an extreme risk protection order upon a finding by clear and convincing evidence that a person poses a significant danger of causing personal injury to the person or others if allowed to possess or purchase a firearm; authorizes a law enforcement officer or relative to file a petition for an extreme risk protection order; creates an offense to store or keep a firearm in any place unless the firearm is secured in a locked container, unloaded, and separate from ammunition except when the firearm is carried by or under the control of the owner or other lawfully authorized user; prohibits a gun dealer from delivering a firearm to a purchaser until 15 business days after the completion of certain requirements. - Amends TCA Title 33; Title 38 and Title 39, Chapter 17.

Firearms and Ammunition - As introduced, enacts the "Anti-Road Rage Act of 2024," which creates a Class E felony for the reckless discharge of a firearm while operating, or as a passenger in, a motor vehicle; creates a Class A misdemeanor for the reckless brandishing or display of a firearm while operating, or as a passenger in, a motor vehicle. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 55.

Firearms and Ammunition - As introduced, creates a criminal offense of storing or keeping a firearm in any place if the firearm is not secured in a locked container or equipped with a tamper-resistant mechanical lock or other safety device that is properly engaged so as to render the firearm inoperable by any person other than the owner or another lawfully authorized user; punishes a violation of the offense as a Class A misdemeanor. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13.

Criminal Offenses - As introduced, creates a Class E felony that is committed when a person exercises control over a motor vehicle knowing that the person does not have the permission of the owner of the motor vehicle; creates a Class A misdemeanor of possessing a firearm that the person knows or reasonably should know has been stolen. - Amends TCA Title 39.

Public Funds and Financing - As introduced, expresses the legislative intent that a county in which a county-wide fire department is established, or in which a volunteer fire department provides services, direct priority for the appropriation and allocation of county funds to fund the activities of the county-wide or volunteer fire department. - Amends TCA Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 8; Title 38 and Title 68, Chapter 102, Part 3.

Memorials, Recognition - T. Wayne Williams, National FFA Southern Region vice president -

Memorials, Personal Occasion - Ken Nelson, Sr., 90th birthday -

Memorials, Sports - Rush Strong Middle School girls' basketball team -

Memorials, Death - Emmett L. Bolyard -

Memorials, Academic Achievement - Rushil Patel, Salutatorian, Chester County High School -

Memorials, Academic Achievement - Cooper Thompson, Valedictorian, Chester County High School -

Memorials, Recognition - Alvin C. York Agricultural Institute, 100th anniversary -

Memorials, Recognition - Sumner County and Trousdale County emergency services agencies and volunteers in Senate District 18 for their efforts during Winter Storm Fern -

Memorials, Sports - Westview High School, girls' soccer state champions -

Memorials, Sports - McKenzie High School Rebels football team -

Memorials, Sports - Abigail Wallace, TSSAA girls' cross country individual runner-up -

Memorials, Sports - Hudson McDaniel, TSSAA Class A girls' cross country individual champion -

Memorials, Sports - Vaughn Bounds, TSSAA Class A boys' cross country individual champion -

Memorials, Sports - Graham Simpson -

Memorials, Retirement - Phil Rogers -

Memorials, Recognition - Andrew Jackson Foundation, 125th anniversary -

Memorials, Retirement - Howard J. Kittell -

Memorials, Recognition - Amanda and Erik Neil, owners of MICHELIN Guide restaurants Little Coyote, Easy Bistro, and Main Street Meats -

Memorials, Recognition - Duane Grieve -

Memorials, Death - James "Jim" Moore Hart -

Memorials, Retirement - Blount County Mayor Ed Mitchell -

Memorials, Retirement - Gaye Hasty -

Memorials, Sports - Kylee Renner -

Memorials, Sports - Brylee Catron -

Memorials, Sports - Trey Bailey -

Memorials, Sports - Marley VanBuskirk -

Memorials, Personal Occasion - Lee Wanda Corn James, 90th birthday -

Memorials, Sports - Taren Claridy -

Memorials, Sports - Zorian Harris -