Tennessee Senate Bill SB0250

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/22/25

Caption

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

Summary

SB0250 creates a new criminal offense related to firearm storage and juvenile access. A person commits the offense if they recklessly store a firearm in a way that they know, or reasonably should know, could allow a child under 18 to access it, and the child then brings the firearm to a school in violation of existing school-weapon laws. The bill is aimed at preventing firearms from being taken onto school property through unsafe storage practices at home or elsewhere. The bill defines “school” broadly to include public and private school buildings and buses, as well as campuses, grounds, recreation areas, athletic fields, and other property used by educational institutions. It classifies a violation as a Class A misdemeanor and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Impact

The bill adds a new section to Tennessee Code Annotated Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13, expanding the state’s firearms offenses to cover negligent or reckless storage that results in a child bringing a gun to school. It creates potential criminal liability for gun owners or custodians whose storage practices allow a minor access to a firearm, and it reinforces existing prohibitions on weapons at schools by targeting the upstream conduct that leads to those violations.

Sentiment

No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate or amendment activity. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears to reflect a public-safety approach focused on preventing school gun incidents, with an emphasis on child access prevention and school security.

Contention

The main potential point of contention is the scope of criminal liability for firearm owners, especially the standard that a person “knows or reasonably should know” their storage could allow child access. Supporters would likely view the bill as a commonsense school-safety and responsible-storage measure, while opponents may argue it could criminalize accidental or indirect conduct and place burdens on lawful gun owners. The broad definition of “school” also means the offense could apply in a wide range of educational settings, not just traditional K-12 classrooms.