AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 7; Title 8; Title 10; Title 33; Title 36; Title 37; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40; Title 49; Title 50; Title 57; Title 67; Title 68 and Title 70, relative to firearms.
HB0806 is a technical, statewide firearms bill that revises Tennessee law to replace many references to “handgun” or “handgun carry permit” with broader terms such as “firearm” and “firearm carry permit.” The bill amends numerous sections across the Tennessee Code, including provisions touching public records, domestic relations, criminal law, education, corrections, labor, parks, taxation, and wildlife, so that existing permit-related references are updated to match the new terminology.
The bill also changes how out-of-state permits are treated by providing that a facially valid handgun, firearms, weapons permit, or license issued by another state will be recognized in Tennessee according to its terms and treated as a Tennessee firearm carry permit. In addition, it creates transition provisions stating that, beginning July 1, 2025, all valid permits issued before that date under the prior handgun-permit statutes will automatically be deemed enhanced firearm carry permits or concealed firearm carry permits, and the state will not be required to reissue them.
HB0806 would update a wide range of Tennessee statutes to align permit language with the broader category of firearms rather than handguns, affecting how carry permits are referenced and administered across multiple agencies and legal contexts. It would also preserve existing permits by converting them by operation of law on the effective date, avoiding the need for permit holders to obtain new documents. The bill’s practical effect is largely conforming and administrative, but it also broadens recognition of qualifying permits and standardizes terminology throughout state law.
No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate, support, or opposition in the available record. Based on the text alone, the bill appears to be a technical modernization measure within Tennessee’s firearms framework rather than a major policy overhaul. Its structure suggests an intent to streamline administration and avoid disruption for current permit holders.
The main potential point of contention is the bill’s expansion from “handgun” to “firearm,” which may be viewed by supporters as a clarification that better matches current carry-permit policy, but by critics as a broader and more permissive framing of carry rights. Another possible issue is the automatic recognition of out-of-state permits and the automatic conversion of existing permits without reissuance, which could raise concerns about reciprocity, enforcement consistency, or administrative oversight. No specific individuals or groups are identified in the provided materials as taking these positions.