Tennesee Legislature passes Right to Own Guns in Rental Units

 

Tennessee Capitol 

 

On March 16, 2026, the Tennessee Legislature transmitted Bill SB0350 to Governor Bill Lee. Governor Bill Lee is expected to sign the legislation.  Governor Lee signed a Constitutional Carry Bill in 2021. Bill SB0350 guarantee's renters rights to keep and bear arms will not be subject to cancellation by rental contracts.  The bill does not apply to state and federal government leases or rentals of property.  The bill applies to both residential and commercial renters. While Governor Lee is expected to sign SB0350, if he does not veto the bill by the 28th of March, the bill will become law without his signature.

The Tennessee Senate passed the bill on February 27, 2026 on a 27 to 5 vote. The Tennessee House followed with a 72 - 22 vote on March 9, with an amendment.  The Senate concurred with the amendment on March 12, 32 -0. Governor Lee is term limited in Tennessee. His term will expire when a new governor takes office in January of 2027.  From the bill:

 SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 66, Chapter 7, is amended by adding the following as a new section:
66-7-113. 

(a) On and after July 1, 2025, a landlord shall not prohibit a tenant or a tenant's guest from lawfully possessing, carrying, transporting, or storing a firearm, any part of a firearm, or firearm ammunition in the tenant's home, apartment, or business; in a vehicle located in a parking area provided for tenants or tenants' guests by the landlord of the leased premises; or in other locations controlled by the landlord as necessary to enter or exit the tenant's home, apartment, or business, to enter or exit the leased premises, or to enter or exit a vehicle located on the leased premises or in a parking area provided by the landlord for tenants or tenants' guests.

The bill provides for remedies if the landlord insists on prohibiting firearms, Renter who have been damaged may file a civil lawsuit against a landlord for "actual damages, punitive damages, and recovery of attorney fees".  New leases may be placed into effect by July 1, 2026 as long as existing lease provisions against firearms are not enforced.

Analysis: The major effect of such bills are to remove from landlords any liability for damages which could be claimed in the event of use of firearms on the landlord's property, even when rented to another person. Because those who wish the population disarmed have failed to do so legislatively and judicially, the mechanism of civil suits has been employed to create bans which would otherwise be considered ridiculous.  Through zoning and the threat of lawsuit, landlords have been required to provide all sorts of services which they might otherwise not be required to do. This is part of the reason for increasing housing costs. Bills such as SB0350 do not require action on the part of landlords; they require inaction. An armed public is considered to be in the interest of the Republic. Actions making it difficult to maintain an armed public are thus against the interests of governments in the United States.

In reality, such bans are extremely difficult to enforce. They are primarily used to allow landlords to remove unwanted tenants. Failure to pay rent or damage to property should remain the primary reason to remove unwanted tenants.

 

©2026 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

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