Tennessee House Bill HB1082

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/5/25
• Refer: 2/10/25

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13, relative to firearms.

Summary

HB1082 amends Tennessee’s firearms statutes to specifically prohibit possession of a “switch” or “auto sear” device designed or intended to convert a firearm into one that fires automatically with a single trigger pull. The bill adds this device to the list of contraband or prohibited items under Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-17-1302, and defines the offense involving such a device as a Class E felony. In practical terms, the bill targets conversion devices commonly associated with illegally modifying semi-automatic firearms into machine guns. It does not broadly rewrite Tennessee gun laws, but it creates a clear statutory reference for these devices and establishes a specific criminal penalty for their possession or related conduct under the firearms chapter. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Impact

The bill would amend Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13 of the Tennessee Code by adding switch and auto sear devices to the list of prohibited firearm-related items and by assigning a Class E felony penalty to offenses involving those devices. This would give law enforcement and prosecutors an explicit statutory basis for charging possession or trafficking of firearm conversion devices, while affecting gun owners, sellers, and anyone manufacturing, possessing, or distributing such parts in Tennessee.

Sentiment

No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate or partisan division in the available record. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears to be a targeted public-safety and firearms-enforcement bill, with a narrow focus on illegal conversion devices rather than general gun regulation.

Contention

Because there are no transcripts or votes in the provided materials, no specific points of contention can be identified from the legislative record. If opposition were to arise, it would likely center on firearms regulation concerns, the scope of criminal liability for possession of small parts, or whether existing law already covers these devices sufficiently; supporters would likely emphasize enforcement clarity and preventing illegal automatic-firearm conversions.