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HB0655 • 2026

Special License Plates

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 55, Chapter 4, relative to specialty license plates benefitting state historic sites.

Active

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

Sponsor
Hicks T, Crowe
Last action
2025-03-25
Official status
Returned to the Clerk's Desk.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on the financial impact or specific usage of funds by nonprofits, only that it is exempted from minimum issuance requirements.

Special License Plates for State Historic Sites

This bill changes Tennessee's laws about special license plates that help state historic sites by allowing fewer than 1,000 plates to be made initially and fewer than 800 plates each time they are renewed.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the law so new special license plates for state historic sites don't need at least 1,000 plates to start.
  • Also changes the rule that requires at least 800 plates to be made when renewing these special plates.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who want to buy special license plates for state historic sites

Terms To Know

Specialty earmarked license plate
A type of license plate with a design or theme that supports a specific cause, like a state historic site.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill only affects special license plates made after the law is passed.
  • It doesn't say how much money will be raised from these plates.

Bill History

  1. 2025-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Returned to the Clerk's Desk.

  2. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Transportation Committee for 3/25/2025

  3. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Transportation and Safety Committee

  4. 2025-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Transportation Committee to 3/25/2025

  5. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Transportation Committee for 3/18/2025

  6. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Transportation and Safety Committee calendar for 3/19/2025

  7. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Transportation and Safety Committee to 3/19/2025

  8. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Transportation and Safety Committee calendar for 3/12/2025

  9. 2025-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Transportation Committee to 3/18/2025

  10. 2025-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Transportation Committee for 3/4/2025

  11. 2025-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  12. 2025-02-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Transportation Subcommittee for 2/25/2025

  13. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Transportation and Safety Committee

  14. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Transportation Subcommittee

  15. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  16. 2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Transportation Committee

  17. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  18. 2025-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  19. 2025-01-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 653
By Crowe

HOUSE BILL 655
By Hicks T

HB0655
000099
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 55,
Chapter 4, relative to specialty license plates
benefitting state historic sites.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-4-202, is amended by adding the
following as a new subsection:
(m) Subdivision (k)(1) does not apply to a new specialty earmarked license plate
authorized by § 55-4-311, § 55-4-312, § 55-4-314, this part, or part 3 of this chapter, if
the funds produced from the sale of the plate are allocated to, and used in whole or in
part by, a nonprofit organization to support the programs and operations of a site
designated as a state historic site by the Tennessee historical commission.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it,
and applies to new specialty earmarked license plates authorized prior to, and on or after the
effective date of this act, the public welfare requiring it.