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HB 1508

Handgun Permits - As introduced, extends the fee waiver for a lifetime enhanced handgun carry permit to include a retired law enforcement officer who served for less than 10 years prior to retirement, was POST-certified, or had equivalent training, on the date the officer retired, and retired from service due to an injury received in the line of duty as a law enforcement officer. - Amends TCA Title 38 and Title 39.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Todd Warner

Tennessee bill expands handgun permit fee waivers to law enforcement officers who retire from line-of-duty injuries with less than 10 years of service if POST-certified or equivalently trained.

Taken off notice for cal in s/c Finance, Ways and Means Subcommittee of Finance, Ways and Means Committee
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Bill Summary · HB 1508

Legislative bill overview

HB 1508 expands Tennessee's existing fee waiver for lifetime enhanced handgun carry permits to include law enforcement officers who retire due to line-of-duty injuries after less than 10 years of service, provided they were POST-certified or had equivalent training at retirement. Currently, the waiver applies only to officers meeting different service requirements. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Titles 38 and 39 to modify eligibility criteria.

Why is this important

Law enforcement officers injured in the line of duty face financial and physical challenges during transition to civilian life. This policy recognizes service-related sacrifices by removing a financial barrier to exercising Second Amendment rights. The change affects a specific population—injured officers with shorter tenures—creating a targeted benefit that may influence recruitment, retention, and support for officers in smaller agencies or early-career roles.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost implications: Expanding fee waivers reduces state revenue from permit processing; fiscal impact depends on how many officers qualify under the new criteria
  • Service threshold rationale: The removal of the 10-year minimum service requirement may raise questions about why injury-based retirement supersedes tenure-based eligibility, and whether this creates unequal treatment among officer classes
  • Definition disputes: "Equivalent training" language may be ambiguous regarding what qualifies, potentially creating administrative disputes or inconsistent application across jurisdictions

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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