The Tennessee State House on Monday passed legislation that will prohibit landlords from prohibiting renters from keeping firearms on their leased property, setting the stage for Governor Bill Lee to sign the bill into law, as the Tennessee State Senate already passed an identical version last month.
House Bill (HB) 469 by State Representative Lee Reeves (R-Franklin) will prohibit a landlord from banning tenants from carrying, transporting, or storing their legally owned firearms, gun components, or ammunition on leased property, including any vehicles stored on the property.
In addition to tenants, the legislation will cover their guests, provided the guests are legal gun owners.
Should a landlord or lessor violate the prohibition, the bill will grant the renter a civil claim to pursue in court. Provisions are included in the bill to exempt properties leased to the State of Tennessee, or its agencies and departments.
The legislation passed with 73 votes in favor, 21 against, and one lawmaker present but not voting, while SB 350 by State Senator Bobby Harshbarger (R-District 4) passed on February 9 with 27 votes in favor and five against, meaning the bill will now be delivered to Lee’s desk for a signature.
After being signed, the legislation will become law on January 1, 2027, and apply to all rental agreements, rules, and regulations created after that date.
Proponents who testified in the State House in favor of the legislation included Britt Winston, the Tennessee state director for Women for Gun Rights, who argued that making gun rights mandatory for rentals was necessary to preserve the spirit of the Second Amendment.
“If you’re not allowed to keep arms in your home, then you don’t meaningfully have the right to keep arms at all,” Winston reportedly said during a House hearing last month.
The Sportsmen’s Alliance also advocated for the Senate version of the bill in January.
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Tom Pappert is a 2025 recipient of the Dao Prize and the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star. He also reports for the Star News Network. Follow Tom on X. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Concealed Carry” by Clinger Holsters. CC BY-ND 2.0.
