Capitol - As enacted, creates a capitol hill protection zone around the state capitol grounds that includes the state capitol, capitol annexes, World War II Memorial Building that formerly housed the state library and ar, the official text

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~tate of \!Cennessee

PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 944

                                                  HOUSE BILL NO. 1504

          By Representatives Lamberth, Lynn, Hawk, Todd, Maberry, Cepicky, Powers

                                       Substituted for: Senate Bill No. 1588

                             By Senators Johnson, Gardenhire, Bowling, Rose

         AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 38; Title 39 and Title 40,
relative to the capitol hill protection zone.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:

         SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 8, is amended by adding the
following as a new part:

          4-8-501.

                   There is designated a capitol hill protection zone around the state capitol grounds
         that includes the state capitol, capitol annexes, World War II Memorial Building that
         formerly housed the state library and archives, Supreme Court Building, William R.
         Snodgrass Tennessee Tower, War Memorial Building, Legislative Plaza, James K. Polk
         State Office Building, Rachel Jackson Building, Andrew Jackson Building, John Sevier
         State Office Building, Cordell Hull Building, and the grounds, roads, and sidewalks along
         either side of the roads immediately surrounding such buildings.

          4-8-502.

                   (a) Law enforcement officers assigned to the capitol hill protection zone by the
         commissioner of safety have concurrent law enforcement authority with local law
         enforcement agencies, including the power to arrest, carry a firearm, and investigate
         crime.

                   (b) The assigned law enforcement officers must be certified by the peace
         officers standards and training commission (POST). Any law enforcement officer
         assigned to the capitol hill protection zone must have completed, in addition to the
         training required for POST-certification, training specifically on the laws regulating
         protesting on state property and best practices for dealing with large public gatherings
         and the protection of government officials.

                   (c) The commissioner of safety may also assign state facility protection officers,
         as appointed and commissioned through § 4-3-2019, to the capitol hill protection zone.
         Any state facility protection officer assigned to the capitol hill protection zone must have
         completed, in addition to the training requirements in § 4-3-2019, training specifically on
         the laws regulating protesting on state property and best practices for dealing with large
         public gatherings and the protection of government officials.

         SECTION 2. This act takes effect January 1, 2027, the public welfare requiring it.
                 HOUSE BILL NO. 1504

PASSED:  April 20, 2026

                         ~\'"2

                          CAMERON SEXTON, SPEAKER
                         HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                                      RANDY MCNALL1
                         SPEAKER OF THE SENAT

2 APPROVED this  ~                                    2026

                         day of ----------~.....,..~

                •

BILL LEE, GOVERNOR