House Bill 1737 amends various sections of the Tennessee Code Annotated related to firearms, primarily focusing on the possession of firearms by individuals with certain criminal convictions or mental health adjudications. The bill establishes that a person commits an offense if they possess a firearm and have been convicted of specific felonies, including crimes of violence, drug offenses, or domestic violence misdemeanors, as well as those prohibited under federal law. The bill categorizes these offenses into different felony classes and misdemeanors, with specific penalties outlined for each. Additionally, it provides exceptions for individuals who have been pardoned, had their convictions expunged, or had their civil rights restored.

The bill also includes numerous amendments to existing laws, replacing references to the previous section on firearm possession with the new provisions established in this bill. For instance, it updates various sections to reflect the new classifications and definitions of unlawful possession of firearms. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, and includes a severability clause to ensure that if any part of the act is deemed invalid, the remaining provisions will still be enforceable.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 39-17-1307, 39-17-1308(b), 39-17-1308, 39-17-1311, 16-10-205, 16-11-202, 16-15-405, 16-16-121, 36-3-625(a)(3), 36-3-625, 36-3-625(h)(3), 37-1-131(a)(2)(B)(i)(t), 37-1-131, 38-8-116(c)(6)(A)(i), 38-8-116, 39-13-113(h)(4), 39-13-113, 39-17-1351, 39-17-1366, 40-14-109(b)(1), 40-14-109, 40-29-103, 40-32-105(i)(5), 40-32-105, 40-32-107(a)(1)(D)(xxx), 40-32-107, 40-32-107(a)(1)(D)(xxxi), 40-32-107(a)(1)(D)(xxxii), 40-32-110(d), 40-32-110, 40-35-121(a)(3)(B)(xxvi), 40-35-121, 40-35-124, 40-35-501, 49-6-3051(b)(2)(F), 49-6-3051, 65-15-106(c)(2), 65-15-106, 39-17-1316, 39-17-1352, 39-17-1313(a), 39-17-1313, 39-17-1359(f), 39-17-1359, 39-17-1359(g)(2)(B), 37-1-190, 37-1-103, 37-1-133(a), 37-1-133, 37-1-153(a)(6), 37-1-153, 37-1-153(f)(1)(A)(i), 37-1-159