TN HB2514

Creates criminal immunity from prosecution for persons who use justified force in self-defense, with pretrial "justified use of force hearings" where defendants can seek dismissal; if the court dismisses charges, defendants receive attorney's fees, court costs, and compensation for lost income

Establishes that threatening deadly force (including displaying a weapon) is not considered actual use of deadly force, and property owners who display weapons against trespassers who refuse to leave are presumed justified and cannot be charged or have weapons confiscated

Reduces penalties for carrying weapons in K-12 schools from a felony to Class A or B misdemeanors, requires proper signage for prohibitions to apply, and allows schools to opt out of posting weapon prohibitions entirely

Permits adults who are not otherwise prohibited from possessing firearms to carry them on university and college campuses, in state and local parks, greenways, and recreational properties without restriction

Expands juvenile firearm prohibitions from handguns only to all firearms carried "with intent to go armed," while defining "intent to go armed" as carrying with premeditation to commit a crime (excluding inadvertent entry into prohibited areas); effective July 1, 2026