Key Takeaways
- Tennessee lawmakers passed Senate Bill 350, preventing landlords from banning tenants from possessing firearms on leased property.
- The law amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 66, extending firearm rights to homes, apartments, and vehicles in landlord-provided parking.
- The legislation passed with strong bipartisan support: 27-5 in the Senate and 73-21 in the House.
- Existing leases prohibiting firearms will be void as of July 1, 2025, and landlords must amend them by July 1, 2026.
- The law allows tenants to sue for damages if landlords violate their rights, affirming that Second Amendment protections apply even in rental situations.
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NASHVILLE, TN – Tennessee lawmakers have passed a bill that prevents landlords from banning tenants from lawfully possessing, carrying, transporting, or storing firearms on leased property. Senate Bill 350 cleared both chambers of the General Assembly with strong bipartisan support and was transmitted to the governor for action on March 16, 2026.
The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 66, which governs property and leases. Under the new law, landlords cannot prohibit tenants or their guests from keeping firearms, firearm components, or ammunition in their homes, apartments, or business spaces. The protections also extend to vehicles parked in landlord-provided parking areas.
The legislation passed the Senate on February 9 with a 27-5 vote. The House passed it on March 9 with a 73-21 vote. The Senate then unanimously concurred with a House amendment on March 12, with a 32-0 vote, before the bill was enrolled and sent to the governor.
Thirteen Republican senators sponsored the bill, led by primary sponsor Sen. Robert Harshbarger. The companion House Bill 469 was sponsored by Rep. Reeves.
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The law takes effect July 1, 2025, as written in the bill text. Existing leases that contain firearm-prohibition clauses are immediately void and unenforceable as of that date. Landlords with such leases must amend them to comply with the new law no later than July 1, 2026.
Tenants who are harmed by a landlord’s violation of this law have a legal path forward. The bill creates a cause of action allowing affected renters to sue for actual damages, punitive damages, and attorney fees.
The law also applies to common areas that tenants must pass through to enter or exit their home or vehicle. This means a no-firearms policy cannot effectively trap a lawful gun owner in their own residence by blocking access points.
For Tennessee renters, this law removes a barrier that has long stood between lawful gun ownership and the practical ability to exercise that right at home. The right to keep and bear arms is a fundamental civil right, and a tenant does not surrender that right simply by signing a lease. This legislation affirms that Second Amendment protections follow the person, not just the property they own.
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