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Senate approves expanded liability protections for firearms manufacturers and sellers after heated floor debate
Summary
Senate Bill 13-60 passed after hours of floor debate. Sponsors said the measure protects local firearms industry jobs and shields manufacturers and dealers from certain civil liability; opponents warned the bill narrows accountability for defective products and could chill plaintiffs’ legal recourse.
Senate Bill 13-60 passed on third and final consideration following extended floor debate over the scope of civil-liability protections for firearms manufacturers, dealers and sellers.
Sponsor and purpose
Senator Hensley, the sponsor, said the bill extends and clarifies liability protections for manufacturers and dealers, including protections against certain foreign claims and limits on civil actions. He said the measure protects a Tennessee firearms industry that employs about 8,000 people across roughly 20 manufacturers and sellers, and is intended to block “frivolous lawsuits.”
Opposition and concerns
Opponents, led on the floor by Senator Yarbrough, said the bill goes further than prior statutes and raises accountability concerns. They criticized provisions that: (1) expand the list of covered products, (2) limit negligence-based claims (removing some forms of negligence per se), and (3) impose fee‑shifting or multiplier penalties on plaintiffs who lose their case. Senator Campbell explicitly asked whether the bill forces courts to assess triple penalties against unsuccessful plaintiffs; the sponsor confirmed the provision exists in the bill. Opponents expressed concern that the measure could leave lawful firearm owners without recourse when harmed by defective products and that the bill’s definitions broaden protections beyond federally licensed manufacturers.
Floor outcome
After debate and a question‑and‑answer exchange that lasted multiple floor turns, the Senate voted to pass the measure. The clerk announced the final tally as Ayes 25, Nays 6. The motion to reconsider was then tabled.
Context and next steps
The sponsor framed the bill as protecting charter employers in Tennessee. Opponents said the text reduces liability avenues for injured consumers. The final enacted text and any implementing guidance will determine precisely which claims remain available and which entities gain protections; those details should be confirmed with the enrolled bill and the official Senate journal.
