Tennessee legislation · 114th General Assembly

Tennessee SB2469: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13, relative to judges.

Status: Chaptered, May 27, 2026

Fiscal Summary NOT SIGNIFICANT Bill Summary Present law generally provides that a person commits a Class E felony if the person intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly carries on or about the person while inside any building in which judicial proceedings are in progress any weapon prohibited by present law, for the purpose of going armed. Further, if the weapon carried is a firearm, the person is in violation of such prohibition regardless of whether the weapon is carried for the purpose of going armed. Present law provides certain exceptions to the above prohibition. One such exception is for any person who is in the actual discharge of official duties as a judge, and meets all of the following criteria:  Is authorized to carry a handgun. Keeps the handgun concealed at all times when in the discharge of such duties. Is vested with judicial powers. This bill revises the above exception by clarifying that the exception applies to a chancery, circuit, or appellate court judge, or a governor-appointed judge, and removes the requirement that such person keep the handgun concealed at all times when in the discharge of their duties. This bill also authorizes a sitting or retired chancery, circuit, or appellate court judge, or a sitting or retired governor-appointed judge, to carry a weapon, including a firearm, in any location and manner where a law enforcement officer is permitted to carry a firearm pursuant to present law, if the judge is authorized to carry a handgun. ON APRIL 13, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 2469, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 removes the provision summarized in the last paragraph of the bill summary and changes the effective date of the bill from upon becoming a law to July 1, 2026.