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TennesseeSB 1360114th General Assembly (2025-2026)Senate

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 29, Chapter 42 and Title 39, relative to weapons.

Sponsored By: Sponsor information unavailable

Signed by Governor

Remedies and Special Proceedings

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 3 costs, 1 mixed.

Triple penalties for barred outside judgments

Beginning July 1, 2025, people enforcing outside judgments or awards against covered Tennessee weapon businesses face new requirements. They and their attorneys must certify that enforcement follows Tennessee public policy. Claimants must prove by clear and convincing evidence that the underlying liability is not barred under Tennessee’s weapon-lawsuit rules. If enforcement is barred, courts must permanently dismiss the case and award three times the judgment’s value, plus attorney fees and costs. The judgment creditor and attorneys are jointly responsible, meaning either can be required to pay the full award.

Higher hurdles for weapon injury claims

Beginning July 1, 2025, people suing covered weapon businesses must claim that the business directly caused their harm. They must prove by clear and convincing evidence that Tennessee law allows the case. The law bars specified claims involving another person’s criminal or unlawful misuse, public nuisance, market-share liability, and certain product-marketing theories. Courts must permanently dismiss barred cases, limiting victims’ and families’ paths to civil recovery.

Tighter limits on local weapon rules

Beginning July 1, 2025, local governments can regulate firearm discharge only when state law expressly allows it. The law adds weapon loans to activities covered by state control and limits specified local enactments to ordinances or resolutions. It revises exceptions involving privately owned property locations, state-law enforcement, and transporting knives and other weapons. Specified firearm activities alone do not establish nuisance, civil conspiracy, negligent entrustment, or unlawful business practice. A related condition also reaches people or groups who will be subject to it or intend to be physically present.

Broader weapon shields, tighter business definitions

Beginning July 1, 2025, Tennessee’s lawsuit shield covers more products, including ammunition components, antique firearms, body armor, and firearm accessories. Coverage includes rapid-fire devices, magazines, silencers, optics, lights, lasers, knives, blunt defensive weapons, stun guns, and pepper spray. Covered manufacturers must be organized or registered in Tennessee, or have headquarters or a business location there. Dealers must hold Tennessee and federal dealer licenses; sellers include anyone distributing, selling, or transferring covered products in Tennessee. Negligent entrustment now means supplying someone the supplier knows, or reasonably should know, intends criminal use to physically injure others.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

There is no primary sponsor on record.

Cosponsors

  • Paul Bailey

    Republican • Senate

  • Janice Bowling

    Republican • Senate

  • Adam Lowe

    Republican • Senate

  • Stevens

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Bo Watson

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 170 • No: 50

House vote • 4/15/2025

FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR PREVIOUS QUESTION PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/15/2025

Yes: 66 • No: 22

Senate vote • 4/15/2025

FLOOR VOTE: as Amended Third Consideration 4/15/2025

Yes: 26 • No: 6

House vote • 4/15/2025

FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/15/2025

Yes: 72 • No: 20

Senate vote • 4/8/2025

SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

Yes: 6 • No: 2

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective date(s) 07/01/2025

    5/13/2025

  2. Pub. Ch. 329

    5/13/2025

  3. Signed by Governor.

    5/2/2025Senate

  4. Transmitted to Governor for action.

    4/22/2025Senate

  5. Signed by H. Speaker

    4/21/2025House

  6. Signed by Senate Speaker

    4/21/2025Senate

  7. Enrolled and ready for signatures

    4/17/2025Senate

  8. Sponsor(s) Added.

    4/15/2025Senate

  9. Passed H., Ayes 72, Nays 20, PNV 0

    4/15/2025House

  10. Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA0366)

    4/15/2025House

  11. Subst. for comp. HB.

    4/15/2025House

  12. Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

    4/15/2025Senate

  13. Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 26, Nays 6

    4/15/2025Senate

  14. Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0383)

    4/15/2025Senate

  15. Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/15/2025

    4/14/2025Senate

  16. Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/15/2025

    4/11/2025Senate

  17. Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 6, Nays 2 PNV 0

    4/8/2025Senate

  18. Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 4/8/2025

    4/2/2025Senate

  19. Action deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 4/8/2025

    4/2/2025Senate

  20. Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 4/2/2025

    4/1/2025Senate

  21. Action deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 4/2/2025

    4/1/2025Senate

  22. Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 4/1/2025

    3/31/2025Senate

  23. Action deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 4/1/2025

    3/31/2025Senate

  24. Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/31/2025

    3/26/2025Senate

  25. Action deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 4/1/2025

    3/24/2025Senate

Bill Text

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