House Bill 1802 amends Tennessee Code Annotated, specifically Section 39-11-614, regarding the use of deadly force in defense of property. The bill establishes that a person who is not engaged in felony or Class A misdemeanor conduct and is in a lawful residence may use deadly force to protect property under certain conditions. These conditions include the belief that deadly force is immediately necessary to prevent imminent acts such as arson, burglary, robbery, or aggravated cruelty to animals, and that the property cannot be protected by other means. Additionally, the person must reasonably believe there is an imminent danger of death, serious bodily injury, or grave sexual abuse to themselves or a third party.

The bill also makes several technical amendments to related statutes. It updates references in Section 39-11-621 to include protection of property statutes alongside self-defense and defense of third person statutes. Furthermore, it modifies Section 39-11-616(a) to specify the relevant subsections of Section 39-11-614. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, and includes a severability clause to ensure that if any provision is found invalid, the remaining provisions will still be enforceable.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 39-11-614
Amended with HA1054 -- 04/23/2026: 39-11-614, 39-11-621, 39-11-616(a), 39-11-616