[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6610782,"mediaKeyId","2901479-98a71a1d958ee9a63c3cd5b01de95e21","parentId",2901479,"title","Votes at a glance: key outcomes from the Tennessee Senate Judiciary Committee","audioSeconds",3680,"startMs",9120000,"endMs",12800000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2901479-98a71a1d958ee9a63c3cd5b01de95e21&start=9120&end=12800","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2901479-98a71a1d958ee9a63c3cd5b01de95e21/thumbnail_9120000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6610782/Tennessee/Votes-at-a-glance-key-outcomes-from-the-Tennessee-Senate-Judiciary-Committee","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6610782-8863ac2aa344080229d295fc3a17fca3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770742103&Signature=JA3sKWy~rHRu6qYHAS80QFAeTtGrAvw~J3t6ss5jNz4~F4ugAOhfe4fC2FRO-Q2Z00L0vsVkfljEaMI9muEtG26F8Xngt2ip854ICJE0WRvVrvJC-VQ3F40z0CAD-Nn7uMjRciRcoXN-LHjfE-QDHMtnh9I62HjIhwUPbHVv16-X8iGG7EYVzsPJ3qPWzMUIpJLUEl~al2h0cG4NHWXgVLfzgnWpRD6fK9-c1ns6MHkmqqeMrgg~erZKD4c524YJlBATZhQ0-dkILPkoeZzWAQ5QhVZE6pQTirmlf~f~h5qi7eQJIw11GI~OW-kWgINhureCA7CBs6sn02fGuTkOUg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","TN State Legislature","date","2025-04-08T00:00:00Z","article","The Tennessee Senate Judiciary Committee considered a slate of bills on May 20. Below are the committee’s formal actions, the vote tallies recorded by the secretary and the committees to which the bills were referred.

Votes at a glance

- Senate Bill 13‑84 (enhanced armed guard license — allows private security to carry shotgun/rifle under new \"enhanced armed guard\" license; requires psychological evaluations): Committee recommendation favorable; roll call yielded 8 ayes; outcome: to calendar.

- Senate Bill 30 (sign/banner restrictions and enforcement clarifications): Committee recorded 6 ayes, 2 noes; outcome: to calendar.

- Senate Bill 10‑75 (criminal law clarifications including machine gun definition and probation eligibility): Committee recorded 7 ayes, 1 no; outcome: to finance.

- Senate Bill 10‑82 (expansion of dangerous felony statute — adding additional violent crimes): Committee recorded 7 ayes, 1 no; outcome: to finance.

- Senate Bill 13‑18 (handgun‑carry eligibility clarifications; aligns law with court order lowering age for permit): Committee recorded 6 ayes, 2 noes; outcome: to calendar.

- Senate Bill 1‑63 (increase penalty for firing into an occupied motor vehicle): Committee recorded 7 ayes, 1 no; outcome: to finance.

- Senate Bill 6‑57 (adds carjacking/related offenses to racketeering list): Committee recorded 6 ayes, 2 noes; outcome: to calendar.

- Senate Bill 13‑60 (limits on foreign judgments against firearms manufacturers; expands state protections): Committee recorded 6 ayes, 2 noes; outcome: to calendar.

- Senate Bill 14‑07 (authorize deadly force in certain nighttime property crimes): Committee vote was 4 ayes, 3 noes and 1 present not voting; outcome: remains in committee.

- Senate Bill 12‑27 (replace \"handguns\" with \"firearm\" in code; long‑gun carry changes): Committee vote was 4 ayes and 4 noes; outcome: remains in committee.

- Senate Bill 6‑01 (revisions and standards for electronic GPS monitoring providers for domestic‑violence‑related conditions): Committee recorded 8 ayes; outcome: to calendar.

- Senate Bill 4‑18 (streamline restoration of voting rights for persons with felony convictions; separate voting from gun‑restoration): Committee recorded 6 ayes and 2 noes (after amendment); outcome: to calendar.

- Senate Bill 4‑45 (funding for additional public defender positions): Committee recorded 8 ayes; outcome: to finance.

- Senate Bill 4‑64 (limits on bail bond premium rates and other bail procedures — several technical and timing reforms): Committee recorded 8 ayes; outcome: to calendar.

- Senate Bill 11‑33 (bench‑warrant entry and NCIC reporting requirements; surety liability updates): Committee recorded 8 ayes; outcome: to calendar.

Notes on procedure and interpretation

- Where the committee placed a bill \"to calendar,\" that means the committee voted a favorable recommendation and the bill proceeds to the next legislative steps recorded in committee minutes.

- Several bills were amended on the floor of the committee; the short descriptions above reflect the statute language as discussed at the May 20 hearing and any amendment that the committee adopted before voting.

Why this matters: The committee moved a number of criminal‑justice, firearms and court‑procedure bills forward while shelving two of the session’s more controversial measures (deadly‑force expansion and long‑gun public‑carry changes). Committee action sets the agenda for floor debate and informs stakeholders about which proposals are moving and which will require further work.

Provenance: Each tally above matches the roll‑call language recorded in the committee transcript and verified by the secretary at the conclusion of each vote.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Judiciary Committee\tApr 8, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","A summary of formal committee actions on several bills heard May 20 before the Senate Judiciary Committee with brief notes, vote tallies and next steps.","taxTitle","Judiciary, Senate, Committees, Legislative, Tennessee","taxId",29605,"location","Tennessee","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6610788,"Long‑gun carry bill tied in Judiciary committee after heated safety testimony",364,4592000,4956000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2901479-98a71a1d958ee9a63c3cd5b01de95e21&start=4592&end=4956","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2901479-98a71a1d958ee9a63c3cd5b01de95e21/thumbnail_4592000.jpg","/articles/6610788/Tennessee/Longgun-carry-bill-tied-in-Judiciary-committee-after-heated-safety-testimony","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6610788-9e4808dbdd329a46ce42893d952fbdf5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770742103&Signature=C5OJB7ioLeCYlMN~3av8n-~f-vsi51m1EX07~LLxnou1mIt83COQ1wWXJv-0aWK1iGhGE0Pr3lrJvLnvAJkh0EMM~NLxYnxprHQGQR6VoCEPoe8Js~RRL11skTHc9LOD9lCO7WOD-J7Y-aYz4LTdfUUDh8FUdsiebutpxlvfCHx2IDl4hUepTwcCiF-ru5evEP9vnw8TijOYoN69bYZMi-2vfW1prTgpkTeUfSwaW2iP3cUuoZ505kVaRh-~4hlbT7ql3UcGwI~KTOApXpZ6UnVUHCP8uHHP0DCtiwHpDw48xtbbkYDeIk09EMMDFFRVPXW0ozL6Aorkny3Ffo0Buw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Tennessee Senate Judiciary Committee debated a bill, introduced by Senator Bill Lowe, that would replace references to \"handguns\" with the broader term \"firearms\" in state law and thereby affect how public‑carry rules apply to long guns outside the home. The measure sparked broad opposition from state law‑enforcement officials and split the committee.

Sponsor Sen. Lowe framed the legislation as a constitutional and doctrinal update following U.S. Supreme Court decisions about the Second Amendment. \"This isn't a grand bill to revoke class 3 licenses or tax stamps,\" Lowe said, and he argued the change would align Tennessee law with recent precedent and treat long guns and handguns consistently for public‑carry rules.

Department of Safety and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation both urged the committee to reject the change. Elizabeth Stroker, assistant general counsel for the Department of Safety, said the department was concerned about \"allowing someone to carry a high‑capacity style rifle in front of courts, in front of jails, in front of schools, in front of this building,\" and that introducing such rifles into public spaces raised safety concerns.

TBI Deputy Counsel Rachel Russell told the committee \"this changes is 1 that would endanger public safety in the state of Tennessee.\" Sheriff and police association representatives said that widespread long‑gun carry would complicate routine calls for service and could escalate encounters. Jimmy Musick of the sheriffs and chiefs associations said officers would be forced to assume the worst when they respond to reports of an armed person on public property and that carrying a long gun in public could trigger victims or bystanders to claim they felt in imminent fear.

Senators traded anecdotes and policy concerns during a lengthy debate. Lowe and supporters argued the change would restore historical parity between types of firearms and respect the constitutional rights of law‑abiding citizens; opponents emphasized enforcement challenges and potential increases in public fear and policing costs.

The committee vote ended in a 4–4 tie, leaving the measure in committee.

Why it mattered: The bill touched on fundamental questions about the scope of the Second Amendment in public spaces, the role of state law after recent Supreme Court rulings, and practical law‑enforcement consequences. The tie vote reflected the tension between constitutional arguments and public‑safety concerns.

What’s next: The bill remains in committee. Supporters said they will continue to press the issue; opponents asked lawmakers to consider the implications for courthouses, schools and voting places.","A proposal to replace the word “handguns” with “firearms” in state law and to align carry rules with recent Supreme Court precedent produced lengthy testimony from law enforcement and public‑safety officials and failed to reach a majority in committee.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6610792,"Senate Judiciary committee stalls bill to allow deadly force to protect property after hours of testimony",118,2650000,2768000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2901479-98a71a1d958ee9a63c3cd5b01de95e21&start=2650&end=2768","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2901479-98a71a1d958ee9a63c3cd5b01de95e21/thumbnail_2650000.jpg","/articles/6610792/Tennessee/Senate-Judiciary-committee-stalls-bill-to-allow-deadly-force-to-protect-property-after-hours-of-testimony","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6610792-1dcb442f11984a2bf071402bf4dcd8b0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770742103&Signature=eP8XQWSFnbx3v~wrKpbgwfNy6N6tJwrJt0Z-DmdcSLRNJmKPgABLjHA9LiUdouGPOxkdxFwYeORXjHwHD9rb0JMB137--jO3kaXcTaogMF9fM2qgMs2P89LkQhx8Vwucqq4AyG4Ktm05RFEmUwe13dQCIhZ7ElOZ9vo6i3qeKiqYVjGifDjO4U58sKqrwcDF1cuPuPIV3qpMZdJDVnaA8uFU88IjuZUds3~qwdTvRmpGhymsjHSDL8xlApuEBckIlIdXNOdxB8-qF7t4ss5LeBMQNtYENcmTvBuKjDx4wO~qa8K8rKgM-~Hs3Vk3lKLvwgYcqhWrPJtDUEqe3M5UIA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Tennessee Senate Judiciary Committee considered Senate Bill 14‑07, a measure that would have authorized a private citizen to use deadly force in narrowly described circumstances to prevent certain property offenses at night, but the panel did not advance the bill.

Supporters, led by Senator Todd Hensley, said the change was intended to give property owners an option when law enforcement response is delayed. \"In rural areas it may take 15, 20 minutes for law enforcement to get to your house,\" Hensley said, adding that the measure would apply only when a person \"reasonably believe[s]\" deadly force is the only way to protect listed property crimes.

Opponents warned the change would invite more violence and create confusing legal standards for juries. Linda McFadgen Ketchum of Moms Demand Action testified that the bill would make \"property more important than human life,\" and cited high‑profile shootings where people were mistaken for threats. \"This is a step too far. Shoot first, ask questions later will result in innocent Tennesseans being hurt and killed,\" she said.

District attorneys and law enforcement officials also urged caution. Steven Crump, executive director of the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference, said the bill would make jury decisions \"very difficult\" and that Tennessee has long favored a clear distinction between protecting life and protecting property. Patrick Powell of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation warned that the bill's daytime/nighttime distinction could produce \"vastly different outcomes\" for identical conduct, depending on the calendar.

Committee members pressed witnesses on real‑world scenarios: whether homeowners confronting thieves would face criminal charges under current law and how the statute would affect rural residents and disaster response. Crump and others said they had not seen routine prosecution of homeowners who defended their property under prior practice, but cautioned the bill would change legal expectations and could lead to divergent outcomes.

After more than an hour of testimony from advocacy groups, prosecutors and law enforcement, the committee voted. The tally was 4 in favor, 3 opposed and 1 present, not voting, leaving the measure in committee.

Why it mattered: The bill prompted a sustained, bipartisan debate about the line between self‑defense and defense of property, the role of judges and juries in resolving disputed facts, and how statutory language would affect everyday decisions by homeowners and first responders. The committee kept the measure in committee, signaling lawmakers were not prepared to adopt the proposed expansion of deadly‑force law.

What’s next: The bill remains in committee. Supporters said they will continue to press the issue; opponents urged lawmakers to pursue other avenues for addressing theft and response time without expanding deadly‑force authority.

","A Tennessee Senate Judiciary Committee split over a proposal that would allow deadly force in some nighttime property crimes left the measure in committee after emotional testimony from survivors, law enforcement and advocacy groups.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: key outcomes from the Tennessee Senate Judiciary Committee

Long‑gun carry bill tied in Judiciary committee after heated safety testimony

Senate Judiciary committee stalls bill to allow deadly force to protect property after hours of testimony