Tennessee · Senate Bill 494 · 113th General Assembly

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 44, Chapter 17 and Title 70, Chapter 4, Part 1, relative to the possession of firearms.

SB 494 Sponsored by John Stevens Became law

  1. Introduced Jan 25, 2023
  2. In committee Jan 30, 2023
  3. Passed the Senate Mar 23, 2023
  4. Passed the House Apr 10, 2023
  5. To the governor Apr 13, 2023
  6. Became law Apr 25, 2023

What it does

The legislature's own summary of the bill, or its official long title.

Firearms and Ammunition - As enacted, allows persons who are not otherwise prohibited by law from possessing a handgun to carry a handgun while hunting under certain circumstances, rather than only persons with a handgun carry permit. - Amends TCA Title 44, Chapter 17 and Title 70, Chapter 4, Part 1.

Every action

23 steps, oldest first, as the legislature records them.

Show the 15 earlier steps
  1. SenateFiled for introduction
  2. SenateSponsor change.
  3. SenateIntroduced, Passed on First Consideration
  4. CommitteePassed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee · Senate Judiciary Committee
  5. CommitteePlaced on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/7/2023 · Senate Judiciary Committee
  6. SenateAction deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 3/14/2023
  7. CommitteePlaced on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/13/2023 · Senate Judiciary Committee
  8. CommitteeRecommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 7, Nays 2 PNV 0 · Senate Calendar Committee
  9. SenatePlaced on Senate Regular Calendar for 3/23/2023
  10. SenateSenate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0158)
  11. SenatePassed Senate as amended, Ayes 23, Nays 5
  12. SenateSponsor(s) Added.
  13. SenateEngrossed; ready for transmission to House
  14. HouseRcvd. from S., held on H. desk.
  15. HouseSubst. for comp. HB.
  1. HousePassed H., Ayes 82, Nays 10, PNV 1
  2. SenateEnrolled and ready for signatures
  3. SenateSigned by Senate Speaker
  4. HouseSigned by H. Speaker
  5. SenateTransmitted to Governor for action.
  6. SenateSigned by Governor.
  7. Secretary of StatePub. Ch. 218
  8. GovernorEffective date(s) 07/01/2023

Roll calls

3 recorded votes: 2 on the floor, 1 in committee. Each shows how every member voted.

as Amended Third Consideration · Full Senate

Passed 23–5
Mar 23, 2023 · journal entry
Yes 23 No 5
Democrats: 1 yes, 5 no Republicans: 22 yes, 0 no
How each member voted

Yes · 23

No · 5

REGULAR CALENDAR PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION · Full House

Passed 82–10
Apr 10, 2023 · journal entry
Yes 82 No 10 Not voting 1
Party not listed: 1 yes, 0 no Democrats: 11 yes, 10 no Republicans: 70 yes, 0 no
How each member voted

Yes · 82

No · 10

Not voting · 1

Committee and other votes

DateWhereQuestionResult
Mar 13, 2023 Senate Judiciary Committee Judiciary Committee: Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 7, Nays 2 PNV 0
Members

Yes · 7

No · 2

 Passed 7–2

Sponsors

The member who introduced it, joined by 1 cosponsor: 1 Republican.

All 1 cosponsor

From Tennessee's official records (wapp.capitol.tn.gov), checked Nov 3, 2026. Text links go to the official versions; LegiList does not copy bill text.