An individual who resides in Tennessee and owns a firearm shall maintain an active homeowner's, renters, or gun liability insurance policy. That policy shall be no less than one million dollars ($1M) and would insure the individual against damages, losses, death, injury, or property damage from the use of their firearm. Violation of this law is a Class C misdemeanor with a fine of no more than three hundred dollars ($300).

Last Action: Ref. to Delayed Bills Committee

Date: 4/20/23

Installs the Tennessee Instant Check System Improvement Act (TICS Act). This legislation will ensure the integrity of Tennessee's background check systems. The Administrative Office of the Courts will ensure all circuit, criminal, chancery, general sessions, and county courts complete their records accurately and timely.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) is the entity that fields the reports and stores the information received in its TICS database. The bill also provides that the TBI shall submit a report to the governor and both speakers of the Tennessee General Assembly if any barriers to timely reporting and information accessibility occur.

Last Action: Ref. to Delayed Bills Committee

Date: 4/20/23

Provides funding for the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, in concert with the Department of Health, to develop and implement a public awareness campaign focused on gun safety. Allows all county health departments to do the same. The campaign will revolve around mental health conditions and treatment needs. The campaign will publish materials it uses and will be made available to the public free on its website.

Last Action: Ref. to Delayed Bills Committee

Date: 4/20/23

Places an Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) on an individual who is a known risk to themselves or others. As the standard ERPO petition is filed and procedures logged, a database will be formed to track respondent’s physical descriptions, health status, records, and forthcoming counseling resources. The petitioner may request that the temporary ex parte protection order be placed before the individual's court date. This ensures the safety of family and innocents. Standard court proceedings are followed and enforced by local law enforcement agencies. The Tennessee Department of Safety shall create a public awareness campaign designed to educate the public about Extreme Risk Protection Orders.

Last Action: Ref. to Delayed Bills Committee

Date: 4/20/23

Bans the manufacture of AR 15 style firearms in Tennessee.

Last Action: Ref. to Delayed Bills Committee

Date: 4/20/23

A person shall not store a firearm or ammunition in a motor vehicle unless: it is kept from ordinary observation if the person is in the vehicle; or is kept from ordinary observation and locked within the trunk, glove box or interior container if the owner is not in the vehicle. A violation is punishable by civil penalty not to exceed five hundred ($500) dollars.

Last Action: Ref. to Delayed Bills Committee

Date: 4/20/23

In Tennessee, bans a person or entity from manufacture, transfer, or purchase of a detachable firearm ammunition magazine that is capable of storing and feeding more than ten (10) rounds of ammunition. A violation of this law will result in a civil penalty not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000). This bill defines a high-capacity magazine at more than ten (10) rounds. This law does not prevent the possession of a high-capacity magazine lawfully obtained before this law goes into effect.

Last Action: Ref. to Delayed Bills Committee

Date: 4/20/23

Applies a sales tax to all firearms, firearms parts, accessories and equipment at the standard state and county tax rate. (Currently, firearms, parts, accessories, equipment, and gun safes are under a Sales Tax Holiday until July 1, 2023, in Tennessee). Revenue from this sales tax will be deposited by the commissioner into a "Mental Health Care in Tennessee Schools" account. All funds shall remain in the account, and always roll over into the following fiscal year. The state treasurer shall allocate grants from the account to fund Local Education Agency's (LEA's) mental health care funding in each school. This ensures school counselors, therapists, and after-school programs are funded appropriately and used to improve the emotional well-being of each student in Tennessee.

Last Action: Ref. to Delayed Bills Committee

Date: 4/20/23

Requires that firearms be stored, locked, unloaded, and separate from ammunition to prevent the theft of guns. Designed to prevent children who are under 16 years old and people in a mental health crisis from accessing guns and ammunition. Violation of this law is a Class A misdemeanor and reaffirms that firearms should only be under the control of the owner.

Last Action: Ref. to Delayed Bills Committee

Date: 4/20/23

A person who owns a firearm shall report the loss or theft of the firearm to a law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over the location where the firearm was lost or stolen; or where the person reasonably believes that the firearm was lost or stolen, within 24 hours of the loss or theft. A violation will result in a civil penalty, not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500) per violation.

Last Action: Ref. to Delayed Bills Committee

Date: 4/20/23

Expanded background checks for all ages. This bill speeds up all background check inquiries from a 30-day turnaround to a 72-hour turnaround. All entities with obligations to report relevant information that is accessible in the Tennessee Instant Check System (TICS) shall ensure that all relevant information is entered into TICS, or provided to the TBI, within seventy-two (72) hours of an entity's receipt of the information. For purposes of this order, relevant information is defined as criminal history and court mental health status. This more instantaneous background check system should prevent dangerous persons from accessing firearms quickly. This bill also clarifies in the law that firearm sales remain solely with licensed firearm dealers.

Last Action: Ref. to Delayed Bills Committee

Date: 4/20/23

This legislation allows for an Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) to be filed by a family member or school administrator to report and/or petition a court, judge, or law enforcement authority whether a family member may be a harm to themselves or others. If an ERPO is filed, having a firearm or any ammunition in their custody or control would become illegal. Purchasing, possessing, or receiving a firearm or any ammunition would also become illegal under the ERPO. This would remain in place until a judge orders firearms surrendered be returned, after an “emergency” period. A judge can convene a court hearing in which petitioners present evidence to withhold weapons longer, typically up to 12 months, and the gun owner would have the right to argue against that time frame.

This bill also requires training for law enforcement, from the academy level, on how to petition the court to carry out an ERPO. As well, will be trained in how to create a public awareness campaign about Risk Protection Orders.

Law enforcement agencies will have to keep a record of flagged individuals that include physical description, location, and magnitude of order, searchable from a national database.

Require training for law enforcement, at least at the academy, on how to petition the court and carry out the order, and create a public awareness educational campaign about Risk Protection Orders.

Last Action: Ref. to Delayed Bills Committee

Date: 4/20/23

Urges members of the General Assembly to broaden the focus of the gun violence debate to include the social, emotional, physical, and mental health impact of those traumatized by gun violence - especially children and youth. A committee shall be formed to include 5 members: one district attorneys general, appointed by the speaker of the house; one criminal defense attorney, appointed by the speaker of the house; one member of the district public defenders conference, appointed by Lt. Governor; one member of the Tennessee judicial conference, appointed by the Lt. Governor; and the commissioner of corrections. The findings will be presented to the legislature no later than December 2024, with recommended legislation to mitigate gun violence in minority communities.Last Action: Ref. to Delayed Bills Committee

Date: 4/20/23

Except with respect to transactions between licensed dealers, a gun dealer/seller shall not deliver a firearm to a legal purchaser until fifteen (15) business days after day of purchase. This is to help with reducing guns used in suicides, mass shootings, and other senseless loss of life by increasing the amount of time state and federal authorities must conduct a thorough background check.

Last Action: Ref. to Delayed Bills Committee

Date: 4/20/23