Tennessee Governor Signs Law Prohibiting Employers From Disciplining Employees With Firearms in Vehicles

Two weeks ago, we reported that the Tennessee General Assembly had voted in favor of adding a provision to Tennessee’s “Guns in Trunks” law. On April 6, 2015, Governor Haslam signed the bill into law. Accordingly, a new provision will be added to Tennessee’s employment statutes prohibiting employers from discharging employees solely because they have a firearm or firearm ammunition stored in their vehicles while parked on the employer’s property.

Our March 27 blog post, “Tennessee Poised to Prohibit Employers From Disciplining Employees With Firearms in Vehicles,” provides the details on the law’s new requirements, including to which employers it applies, which employees are protected by the law, in which circumstances employers may discipline employees for firearm-related issues, among others. The new law will take effect on July 1, 2015.

William S. Rutchow is a shareholder in the Nashville office of Ogletree Deakins.