Tennessee Senate Bill SB0807

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/4/25

Caption

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

Summary

SB0807 would amend Tennessee’s firearms laws to create new requirements for how handguns are stored in motor vehicles when the owner is not present. The bill makes it an offense to leave a handgun, loaded or unloaded, in a vehicle unless it is out of ordinary observation and locked in the trunk, glove box, utility compartment, or a locked container securely attached to the vehicle. It defines “trunk” narrowly and excludes areas such as pickup beds, hatchback rear areas, and similar compartments. The bill also revises Tennessee’s existing vehicle-carry/storage rules for firearms and ammunition. It distinguishes between situations where a person is inside the vehicle and when the person is not, and it specifies different storage standards for ammunition, non-handgun firearms, and handguns. In addition, it creates a new duty for handgun owners to report a lost or stolen handgun to law enforcement within 24 hours of discovering the loss or theft. The act is set to take effect July 1, 2025.

Impact

If enacted, SB0807 would add new criminal offenses and reporting obligations to Tennessee Code Annotated Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13, expanding state regulation of firearm storage in vehicles and handgun loss/theft reporting. It would affect handgun owners, vehicle owners, and law enforcement agencies by imposing a mandatory secure-storage standard and a prompt reporting requirement. Violations are classified as Class C misdemeanors, but the bill limits punishment to completion of a court-approved handgun safety course and prohibits fines or incarceration for these offenses.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and the absence of committee transcripts or recorded votes, the available record does not show formal debate or a documented vote pattern. The bill’s structure suggests a public-safety-oriented approach focused on preventing unauthorized access to handguns and improving theft reporting. Because no discussion excerpts are provided, there is no direct evidence of support or opposition from legislators or stakeholders in the available materials.

Contention

The main points of potential contention are the bill’s new storage mandate for handguns in vehicles and the 24-hour reporting requirement for lost or stolen handguns. Supporters would likely view these provisions as common-sense safety measures intended to reduce theft, unauthorized access, and misuse of firearms. Opponents may object that the bill expands state regulation of lawful gun ownership, creates a new criminal offense for storage practices, and could be difficult to comply with in real-world vehicle settings, especially given the bill’s narrow definition of trunk and its treatment of pickup trucks, hatchbacks, and SUVs.