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HB0119 • 2026

Financial Responsibility Law

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-12-139, relative to proof of financial responsibility.

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Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Lamberth, Johnson
Last action
2025-04-04
Official status
Effective date(s) 01/01/2026
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and text do not provide specific details about what happens if drivers miss the January 1, 2026 deadline.

Financial Responsibility Law

This law changes who issues certificates for proof of financial responsibility in Tennessee.

What This Bill Does

  • Moves the responsibility from the commissioner of safety to the commissioner of revenue for issuing certificates that show a driver has paid or filed a bond with the state.
  • Requires drivers to get these certificates from the new office starting January 1, 2026.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Drivers who need proof of financial responsibility in Tennessee
  • The commissioner of revenue and their staff

Terms To Know

Financial Responsibility Law
A law that requires drivers to show they can pay for damages if they are involved in a car accident.
Certificate
A document issued by the government proving something is true or has been done, like paying money or filing a bond.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The exact number of drivers affected is not given in the source.
  • It does not say what happens if someone misses the January 1, 2026 deadline.

Bill History

  1. 2025-04-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Effective date(s) 01/01/2026

  2. 2025-04-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Pub. Ch. 83

  3. 2025-04-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. became Pub. Ch. 83

  4. 2025-03-28 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Governor.

  5. 2025-03-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Transmitted to Governor for his action.

  6. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Senate Speaker

  7. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by H. Speaker

  8. 2025-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.

  9. 2025-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate, Ayes 30, Nays 0

  10. 2025-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.

  11. 2025-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.

  12. 2025-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed H., Ayes 95, Nays 0, PNV 0

  13. 2025-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Companion House Bill substituted

  14. 2025-03-07 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Consent Calendar 2 for 3/10/2025

  15. 2025-03-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Consent Calendar for 3/10/2025

  16. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 3/6/2025

  17. 2025-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee

  18. 2025-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee

  19. 2025-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Commerce and Labor Committee calendar for 3/4/2025

  20. 2025-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Commerce and Labor Committee calendar for 3/4/2025

  21. 2025-02-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Insurance Committee for 2/26/2025

  22. 2025-02-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Meeting Canceled

  23. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Insurance Committee for 2/19/2025

  24. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Insurance Committee

  25. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Commerce and Labor Committee

  26. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  27. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  28. 2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  29. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Insurance Subcommittee for 2/12/2025

  30. 2025-01-28 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Insurance Subcommittee

  31. 2025-01-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Ref. to Insurance Committee

  32. 2025-01-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C held on desk, pending appointment of Standing Committees

  33. 2025-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  34. 2025-01-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 1300
By Johnson

HOUSE BILL 119
By Lamberth

HB0119
000174
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Section
55-12-139, relative to proof of financial
responsibility.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-12-139(b)(2)(B), is amended by
deleting "commissioner of safety" and substituting "commissioner of revenue".
SECTION 2. This act takes effect January 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.