As the CDC and Health Departments continue to issue guidance to practice social distancing and cancel meetings to mitigate spread of the Coronavirus, as of Monday afternoon, the Tennessee Legislature plans to continue with the legislative session, but will close the Cordell Hull Building and State Capitol to everyone other than legislators, staff, and members of the media. In other words, the Tennessee General Assembly will take up the people’s business without the people being present.

There are numerous important gun bills up for critical votes this week. The bill sponsors will present their legislation, committee members will debate them, and votes will be taken.  But no citizens, advocacy groups, or other members of the public will be allowed to meet with legislators in advance of votes, nor will they be able to testify before committees.

Below are a list of the priority bills we are tracking.  You can click on the committee name to be linked to contact info for committee members. Please consider sending emails or making phone calls to legislators to make your voice heard.

Additionally, all committee hearings are live streamed. You can click here to watch the committees in real time.

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MONDAY – Senate Education Committee 1:30pm

SB2288 by Bowling/ HB2102 by Bricken – CAMPUS CARRY – OPPOSE
As introduced, authorizes a registered student at a public institution of higher education to carry a handgun in a concealed manner on property owned, operated, or controlled by that institution if the student is a handgun carry permit holder and otherwise in compliance with state law.

TUESDAY – Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee 8:30am

SB2671 by Johnson/ HB2817 by Lamberth – PERMITLESS CARRY – SOME RESTRICTIONS – OPPOSE
As amended, would remove the requirement to undergo a criminal background check and basic gun safety training before being legally allowed to carry guns in public.  Creates sentence enhancements for individuals who steal firearms from vehicles.  This bill is supported by the Governor, but strongly opposed by law enforcement.
NOTE: The fiscal note for this legislation is high; estimated to cost the state millions of dollars.

TUESDAY – Senate Judiciary 3:00pm

SB2046 by Yarbro/HB2104 by Love – INVESTING IN INTERVENTION – SUPPORT
As introduced, creates the Tennessee violence intervention program within the department’s office of criminal justice programs to invest in evidence-based violence reduction initiatives.

TUESDAY – House Constitutional Protections Subcommittee 4:30pm

HB2536 by Doggett/SB2614 by Hensley – GUNS EVERYWHERE – SUE IF GUNS ARE PROHIBITED – OPPOSE
As introduced, creates a civil action against any person or government entity that infringes upon a person’s right to bear arms under the Tennessee or United States Constitutions; requires the person or entity to be liable for actual or statutory damages, punitive damages, attorney’s fees, and court costs.
NOTE: This legislation would allow anyone to sue any entity including schools, courthouse, and hospitals that prohibit firearms. This bill would allow a person recently convicted of stalking, or any other domestic violence misdemeanor to sue a police officer, prosecutor, judge or even the court clerk – in their professional and personal capacity – simply for doing their job.

SB2888 by Bailey/ HB2661 by Todd – PERMITLESS CARRY – NO RESTRICTIONS – OPPOSE
As introduced, permits a person to carry a handgun in a concealed manner; permits a person carrying a handgun in a concealed manner to carry in parks, higher education campuses, and areas posted by local governments in the same manner permitted by handgun carry permit holders.
NOTE: The fiscal note for this legislation is high; estimated to cost the state several million dollars.

SB1566 by Hensley/HB1553 by Griffey – PERMITLESS CARRY NO RESTRICTIONS – OPPOSE
As introduced, creates exceptions to the offense of open or concealed carrying of a firearm with the intent to go armed for any person legally in possession and not prohibited from possessing a firearm; converts existing defenses to be exceptions.
NOTE: The fiscal note for this legislation is high; estimated to cost the state several million dollars.

WEDNESDAY – House Children and Families Subcommittee 2:00pm

SB1807 by Kyle/HB1873 by Johnson G – EXTREME RISK PROTECTION ORDERS – SUPPORT
As introduced, allows a court to issue an emergency protection order upon a finding that a person poses an imminent risk of harm to the person or others if allowed to purchase or possess a firearm; authorizes a family member, household member, intimate partner, or law enforcement officer to petition for such an order.

WEDNESDAY – House Judiciary Committee 3:30pm

SB2671 by Johnson/ HB2817 by Lamberth – PERMITLESS CARRY – SOME RESTRICTIONS – SENTENCE ENHANCEMENTS – OPPOSE
As amended, would remove the requirement to undergo a criminal background check and basic gun safety training before being legally allowed to carry guns in public.  Creates sentence enhancements for individuals who steal firearms from vehicles.
NOTE: The fiscal note for this legislation is high; estimated to cost the state millions of dollars.