HB 1504

As of January 1, 2027, this bill establishes a capitol hill protection zone, which includes the following spaces:  State capitol.  Capitol annexes.  War Memorial Building.  Legislative Plaza.  Cordell Hull Building.  Supreme Court Building.  State Library and Archives Building.  John Sevier State Office Building.  James K. Polk State Office Building.  William R. Snodgrass Tennessee Tower.  Grounds and roads immediately surrounding the buildings listed above. This bill requires the commissioner of safety to ensure that the capitol hill protection zone is adequately staffed by law enforcement officers, who will have concurrent law enforcement authority with local law enforcement agencies, including the power t o arrest, carry a firearm, and investigate crime. While assigned law enforcement officers may include members of the Tennessee highway patrol, division of protective services, and state facility protection officers, this bill requires officers to be certified by the peace officers standards and training commission (POST). Along with POST-certification, this bill requires additional training, specifically on laws regulating protesting on state property and best practices for dealing with large public gatherings and the protection of government officials. ON FEBRUARY 26, 2026, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 1504, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 makes the following changes:  Includes the World War II Memorial Building that formerly housed the state library and archives, the Rachel Jackson Building, and the Andrew Jackson Building in the capitol hill protection zone.  Clarifies that the sidewalks along either side of the roads immediately surrounding the buildings in the capitol hill protection zone are also a part of the capitol hill protection zone.  Removes the requirement that the commissioner of safety ensure that the capitol hill protection zone is adequately staffed by law enforcement officers.  Removes from the assigned law enforcement officers members of the Tennessee highway patrol and officers from the division of protective services.  Authorizes the commissioner of safety to assign state facility protection officers to the capitol hill protection zone. However, assigned state facility protection officers must have completed training specifically on the laws regulating protesting on state property and best practices for dealing with large public gatherings and the protection of government officials.