Tennessee House Bill HB0944

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/4/25
• Refer: 2/6/25

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 54; Section 38-3-119 and Title 39, Chapter 17, relative to firearms.

Summary

HB0944 would substantially expand Tennessee’s statutory definition of “assault weapon” and create a new regulatory framework for those firearms. The bill lists numerous named firearm models and also captures broad categories of semiautomatic rifles, pistols, and shotguns based on features such as detachable magazines, folding or telescoping stocks, pistol grips, threaded barrels, flash suppressors, and magazine capacity. It also defines related terms such as “semiautomatic rifle” and treats certain conversion parts and rapid-fire accessories as prohibited items. The bill would make it an offense to purchase, possess, use, manufacture, sell, or offer for sale bump stocks, bump-fire devices, trigger cranks, and similar rate-of-fire accelerating accessories that do not convert a firearm into a machine gun. It also amends existing firearms provisions to classify assault weapons and certain modified semiautomatic rifles within Tennessee’s weapons laws, with the new offenses and restrictions generally taking effect July 1, 2025, while rulemaking and form creation would begin upon enactment.

Impact

HB0944 would change Tennessee Code Annotated Title 39 by adding a detailed statutory definition of “assault weapon,” adding a new offense for certain rapid-fire accessories, and revising related possession and transfer rules. It would require people who already possessed an assault weapon before July 1, 2025, to apply for a certificate of possession, and it directs the Department of Safety to create the application, certificate, transfer forms, and submission process. The bill also imposes reporting and documentation requirements for transfers to licensed gun dealers and sets out special rules for inherited weapons and for military personnel newly transferred into the state.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and the absence of committee transcripts or recorded votes, the available context suggests the measure is a major gun-control proposal rather than a consensus bill. Its structure indicates an intent to restrict access to certain firearms and accessories while creating a grandfathering and registration process for existing owners. Because no discussion or vote history is provided, there is no documented committee or floor sentiment in the supplied materials, but the bill’s scope suggests it would likely draw strong support from gun regulation advocates and strong opposition from gun rights supporters.

Contention

The main points of contention are likely the breadth of the assault weapon definition, the inclusion of many common semiautomatic rifles and pistols by name and by feature, and the requirement that existing owners register their firearms through a certificate of possession. Another likely flashpoint is the criminalization of bump stocks, bump-fire devices, and similar accessories as Class E felonies. The bill also raises privacy and administrative concerns by requiring personal identifying information, firearm descriptions, and thumbprints for certificates, and it imposes strict deadlines and disposal options for inherited weapons and for military transferees.