Firearms and Ammunition - As enacted, lowers the standard for the use of deadly force to protect property. - Amends TCA Title 39. Companion bill has been assigned Public Chapter Number 1100 by the Secretary of State, the official text

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                            PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 1100

                                                    SENATE BILL NO. 1847

                By Hensley, Pody, Seal, Yager, Hatcher, Bailey, Bowling, Powers, White

                                           Substituted for: House Bill No. 1802

  By Capley, Todd, Atchley, Stinnett, Lamberth, Doggett, Hill, Grills, Reneau, Fritts, Towns, Warner,
    Keisling, Eldridge, Butler, Davis, Sherrell, Leatherwood, McCalmon, Reedy, Crawford, Moody,
                                                          Powers, Hawk

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39, relative to the defense of property.

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

          SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-11-614, is amended by deleting
subsection (c) and substituting instead the following:

                    (c) A person who is not engaged in conduct that would constitute a felony or a Class
          A misdemeanor and who is in a place where the person lawfully resides is justified in using
          deadly force against another to protect property:

                              (1) If the person would be justified in using force against another under
                    subsection (a) or (b);

                              (2) When and to the degree the person reasonably believes deadly force is
                    immediately necessary to prevent the other's imminent commission of arson,
                    burglary, robbery, aggravated robbery, or aggravated cruelty to animals;

                              (3) The person reasonably believes the property cannot be protected or the
                    other's actions terminated by any other means; and

                              (4)(A) There is an imminent danger to the person or a third person of death,
                              serious bodily injury, or grave sexual abuse; or

                                        (B) The use of force other than deadly force to protect or terminate the
                              other's actions would expose the person or a third person to a risk of death,
                              serious bodily injury, or grave sexual abuse.

          SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-11-621, is amended by deleting "self-
defense or defense of third person statutes, §§ 39-11-611 and 39-11-612" and substituting "self-
defense, defense of third person, or protection of property statutes, §§ 39-11-611, 39-11-612, and
39-11-614".

          SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-11-616(a), is amended by deleting "§§
39-11-614 and 39-11-615" and substituting"§ 39-11-614(a) and (b) and§ 39-11-615".

          SECTION 4. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is
held invalid, then the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of the act that can be
given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to that end, the provisions of this act are
severable.

          SECTION 5. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.
         SENATE BILL NO. 1847

PASSED:  April 23, 2026

                                      RANDY McNN.-LY
                         SPEAKER OF THE SEN'lTE

                         CAMERON SEXTON, SPEAKER
                         HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

APPROVED this :J;}...,.J. day of f Y \ ~  2026

         ~ l~
                    BILL LEE, GOVERNOR