Driver Licenses

Plain English Breakdown

The official summary text does not provide specific details about the exact color or design of the distinctive background.

Driver Licenses for Noncitizens

This bill requires Tennessee to redesign driver licenses and photo IDs for lawful permanent residents so they have a visually distinctive background color.

What This Bill Does

• Requires the Department of Safety to redesign driver licenses, instruction permits, intermediate driver licenses, photo identification cards, and temporary licenses and permits issued to lawful permanent residents of the United States.
• Specifies that these redesigned documents must be printed on a visually distinctive colored background to distinguish them from those issued to U.S. citizens.
• Allows non-U.S. citizen license holders to retain their driving privileges and restrictions as before when renewing their licenses.
• Requires issuance of standard design licenses to applicants who become U.S. citizens upon renewal.

Who It Names or Affects

• Lawful permanent residents of the United States who hold Tennessee driver licenses or photo IDs
• The Department of Safety in Tennessee

Terms To Know

lawful permanent resident

A person who has been granted permission to live and work permanently in the U.S. by the government.

Department of Safety

The state agency responsible for issuing driver licenses and photo identification cards.

Limits and Unknowns

• This bill was withdrawn on January 27, 2025, so it is not currently in effect.
• It does not specify the exact color or design of the distinctive background required for non-U.S. citizen licenses and IDs.

Official Summary Text

This bill requires

t
he department of safety
("department") to
redesign driver licenses, instruction permits, intermediate driver licenses, photo identification licenses
, and temporary licenses and p
ermits
issued to lawful permanent residents of the United States, so that
such licenses and permits
may be easily distinguished from
licenses and permits
issued to residents of this state who are United States citizens. The
redesigned
licenses and permits
must be printed on a visually distinctive colored background.

No later than January 1, 2026, this bill requires t
he department
to
begin issuing the redesigned licenses and permits to qualified applicants.

The person issued
,
or for whom was renewed
,
a l
icense or permit is entitled to the same driving privileges and, if applicable, is subject to the same restrictions authorized by the previously issued license or permit.
Additionally, t
he redesigned license or permit must also be accepted as proof of ide
ntity in the same manner as the previously issued license or permit.

This bill requires that

a
person issued
,
or for whom was renewed
,
a license or permit who, upon renewal of the license or permit, submits documentation that the applicant is a citizen
of the United States, be issued a license or permit that is the same design as the license or permit issued to residents of this state who are United States citizens.

Current Bill Text

SENATE BILL 5
By Hensley

HOUSE BILL 11
By Cepicky

HB0011
000254
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 55,
Chapter 50, relative to the issuance of driver
licenses and photo identification to noncitizens.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1.
(a) The department of safety shall redesign driver licenses, instruction permits,
intermediate driver licenses, and photo identification licenses issued to lawful permanent
residents of the United States pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-50-
303(a)(9), and the temporary licenses and permits described in Tennessee Code
Annotated, Section 55-50-331(g), so that they may be easily distinguished from driver
licenses, instruction permits, intermediate driver licenses, and photo identification
licenses issued to residents of this state who are United States citizens. The driver
licenses, instruction permits, intermediate driver licenses, photo identification licenses,
and temporary licenses and permits must be printed on a visually distinctive colored
background.
(b) The department of safety shall begin issuing the redesigned licenses and
permits to qualified applicants no later than January 1, 2026.
(c) The person issued or for whom was renewed a license or permit pursuant to
subsection (a) is entitled to the same driving privileges and, if applicable, is subject to
the same restrictions authorized by the previously issued license or permit. The
redesigned license or permit must also be accepted as proof of identity in the same
manner as the previously issued license or permit.

- 2 - 000254

(d) A person issued or for whom was renewed a license or permit pursuant to
subsection (a) who, upon renewal of the license or permit, submits documentation that
the applicant is a citizen of the United States pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated,
Section 55-50-321(c)(1)(C)(i), shall be issued a license or permit that is the same design
as the license or permit issued to residents of this state who are United States citizens.
SECTION 2. For purposes of redesigning licenses and permits, this act takes effect
upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it. For all other purposes, this act takes effect
January 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.