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House Bill 469 advances out of Business & Utilities Subcommittee after debate over renters' firearm rights
Summary
House Bill 469, which would prevent landlords from banning lawful possession or storage of firearms inside leased residential premises, advanced out of the Business & Utilities Subcommittee by an 8–2 vote after sponsor and witnesses argued the change protects renters while others warned of property-rights conflicts.
House Bill 469, sponsored by Representative Reeves, was advanced to the full Commerce Committee after the Business & Utilities Subcommittee voted 8–2 to send the measure forward.
Representative Reeves told the committee the bill makes a narrow, prospective change to Tennessee landlord-tenant law that would bar landlords from prohibiting "lawful possession, carrying, transportation, or storage of a firearm inside a tenant's leased residential premises," while carving out explicit exclusions such as hospitals, nursing homes, certain independent living facilities, Department of Children's Services premises, state agency property and school property. He said the change would take effect on Jan. 1, 2027. "At its core, this bill recognizes that a leased dwelling unit is someone's home," Representative Reeves said during his presentation.
Supporters told the panel the bill is aimed at equalizing protections for renters. Bridal Winston, Tennessee state director for Women for Gun Rights, said renters often discover restrictive lease provisions only after moving in and argued that "if you're not allowed to keep arms in your home, then you don't meaningfully have the right to keep arms at all." Kristen Pressburg, a Rutherford County resident who operates She Shoots training, cited data she said show roughly one million Tennessee households rent and told the committee that many violent crimes occur in victims' residences.
Opponents raised property-rights concerns. Johanna Cohen of Robertson County said homeowners and private property owners should be able to determine whether firearms are permitted on their property and described the change as government overreach into lease agreements.
Members questioned how the bill would work in mixed-occupancy situations such as a homeowner renting a basement unit and whether doctrines like castle doctrine or stand-your-ground would be affected. Representative Reeves said the bill only amends Title 66, the landlord-tenant provisions, and does not alter self-defense statutes. He noted a 2009 attorney general opinion had left a legal gap on whether landlords could prohibit firearms, and described HB469 as intended to fill that gap.
After roughly an hour of testimony and debate, the subcommittee voted to send HB469 to full commerce. The clerk recorded eight ayes and two nays.
