House Bill 1737, also known as Senate Bill 1851, amends various sections of the Tennessee Code Annotated related to firearms. The bill primarily revises Section 39-17-1307, which outlines offenses related to firearm possession. It establishes that individuals who have been convicted of certain felonies, misdemeanors related to domestic violence, or who are otherwise prohibited from possessing firearms under federal law commit an offense if they possess a firearm. The bill categorizes these offenses into different classes of felonies and misdemeanors, depending on the nature of the prior conviction. Additionally, it specifies that certain exceptions apply, such as if a person has been pardoned or had their civil rights restored.

The bill also includes numerous amendments to other sections of the Tennessee Code, replacing references to the previous version of Section 39-17-1307 with the new provisions. For instance, it updates various legal references to align with the new classifications of offenses and clarifies the definitions of unlawful possession of firearms. 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: 39-17-1307, 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