The Tennessee State House Business & Utilities Subcommittee will hear a bill next week that aims to protect Tennessee renters’ Second Amendment rights.
State Representative Lee Reeves (R-Franklin) introduced House Bill (HB) 0469, which would prevent landlords from prohibiting their tenants or guests from lawfully possessing firearms, firearm parts, or ammunition on the property they rent.
HB 0469 would also prevent landlords from banning their tenants or guests from carrying, transporting, or storing these items.
The protections outlined in the bill proposal apply to a tenant’s home, apartment, or business, as well as to a vehicle parked in a tenant’s or guest’s parking area.
HB 0469 also provides protection to tenants and guests entering, leaving, or moving around on the landlord’s property.
A tenant who believes their Second Amendment rights have been infringed upon by their landlord may take legal action, the bill proposal states.
Reeves originally introduced the bill proposal during the 2025 Tennessee Legislative session. It did not pass the State House last year but was deferred until the 2026 session. The State Senate’s version of the bill, Senate Bill (SB) 0350, also got deferred to this year’s session.
State Senator Bobby Harshbarger (R-Hawkins County) is the sponsor of SB 0350.
A fiscal impact analysis done on these two bill proposals last year found their fiscal impact would “not be significant.”
If the Tennessee General Assembly passes HB 0469 and Governor Bill Lee signs it into law, the Volunteer State would join several other states that protect renters’ Second Amendment rights.
Texas and Minnesota have laws that prohibit landlords from prohibiting tenants or guests from lawfully possessing a gun on their property.
In Ohio, landlords can’t prohibit tenants or guests with a concealed-carry license from carrying a firearm on their property.
In Virginia, public housing landlords can’t prohibit gun ownership in tenant lease agreements.
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Zachery Schmidt is the digital editor of The Star News Network. Email tips to Zachery at zschmidt1717@gmail.com.
