HB 554
FISCAL NOTE
Fiscal Review Committee
Tennessee General Assembly
February 1, 2025
Fiscal Analyst: Natalie Dusek | Email: natalie.dusek@capitol.tn.gov | Phone: 615-741-2564
HB 554
SUMMARY OF BILL: Creates a civil action against any government entity, official,
employee, or agent that infringes upon a person's right to bear arms under the Tennessee
Constitution or United States Constitution. Specifies that a violation of a person's right to bear arms
by a government employee may be prosecuted as official oppression. Further specifies the
enforcement of any law is not a violation of the proposed legislation.
FISCAL IMPACT:
NOT SIGNIFICANT
Assumptions:
• Article 1, Section 26 of the Tennessee Constitution states, “That the citizens of this State
have a right to keep and to bear arms for their common defense; but the Legislature shall
have power, by law, to regulate the wearing of arms with a view to prevent crime.”
• Pursuant to the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution, “A well-regulated
militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and
bear arms, shall not be infringed."
• There will not be a sufficient number of civil actions brought against government entities,
officials, employees, or agents for state or local government to experience any significant
increase in expenditures.
• Pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-16-403(c), a public servant acting under color of office
or employment commits an offense who intentionally denies or impedes another in the
exercise or enjoyment of any right, privilege, power or immunity, when the public servant
knows the conduct is unlawful commits a Class E felony.
• There will not be a sufficient number of Class E prosecutions for state or local government
to experience any significant increase in revenue or expenditures.
• This legislation will not significantly impact courts’ caseloads. Any fiscal impact to state or
local government is estimated to be not significant.
HB 554 2
CERTIFICATION:
The information contained herein is true and correct to the best of my knowledge.
Bojan Savic, Executive Director