Tennessee Senate Bill SB1184

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/6/25

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 36; Title 39 and Title 40, relative to firearms dispossession.

Summary

SB1184 revises Tennessee’s firearms dispossession procedures in two settings: orders of protection and certain criminal convictions. In both contexts, the bill requires a person who is prohibited from possessing firearms to transfer any firearms in their possession to a court-designated law enforcement agency within 48 hours of the order or conviction-related directive. The person must then file proof of compliance with the court within three business days, including an affidavit of firearms dispossession and a receipt from the law enforcement agency. The bill also directs law enforcement agencies that receive surrendered firearms to issue a receipt identifying the firearms taken and to keep a copy of that receipt. It requires the Administrative Office of the Courts to create and post a standardized affidavit of firearms dispossession form for use by courts, clerks, and defendants. The measure removes a conflicting provision in Title 40 and makes the new procedures applicable to offenses committed on or after July 1, 2025, while allowing the form-development section to take effect immediately.

Impact

SB1184 amends Tennessee Code Annotated sections governing firearm surrender in domestic violence protective order cases and in certain criminal sentencing or conviction-related firearm restrictions. It changes the timing and documentation requirements for dispossession, standardizes the proof-of-surrender process, and imposes a receipt-keeping obligation on law enforcement agencies designated to receive firearms. The bill also requires the courts’ administrative office to create a uniform affidavit form, which should make compliance and court enforcement more consistent across the state.

Sentiment

No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate or partisan division in the available materials. Based on the text alone, the bill appears to reflect a procedural and administrative approach to enforcing existing firearm prohibitions rather than creating a new category of disqualification. Its structure suggests an emphasis on clarity, documentation, and enforceability, which may appeal to supporters of stronger compliance mechanisms and standardized court procedures.

Contention

The likely points of contention are the firearm surrender requirement, the short 48-hour compliance window, and the obligation to transfer firearms to law enforcement rather than another custodian. Supporters would likely view these provisions as necessary to ensure timely removal of firearms from prohibited persons and to improve court oversight through receipts and affidavits. Opponents may object to the burden on respondents or defendants, the involvement of law enforcement in firearm storage, and the practical difficulty of complying quickly after an order or conviction.