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HB0859 • 2026

Traffic Safety

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 55, relative to transportation.

Active

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

Sponsor
Alexander, Crowe
Last action
2025-04-28
Official status
Effective date(s) 04/11/2025
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on what happens if an autocycle is only partially enclosed or how this change will affect helmet requirements for riders of fully enclosed autocycles.

Traffic Safety Law Changes

This bill changes when certain traffic safety rules take effect and defines what 'fully enclosed' means for autocycles.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the date when a rule about crash helmets takes effect to February 1, 2026.
  • Defines an autocycle as fully enclosed if it has side panels, a roll bar or roof, and a windshield.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who ride autocycles in Tennessee
  • Law enforcement officers enforcing traffic laws

Terms To Know

autocycle
A type of motorcycle with an engine smaller than 150 cubic centimeters and a fully enclosed body.
fully enclosed
Having side panels, a roll bar or roof, and a windshield.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if an autocycle is only partially enclosed.
  • It's unclear how this change will affect helmet requirements for riders of fully enclosed autocycles.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

Amendment 1-0 to HB0859

Plain English: The amendment adds a new subsection to Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-9-302, defining what 'fully enclosed' means for transportation vehicles.

  • Adds a definition of 'fully enclosed' which includes side panels, a roll bar or roof, and a windshield.
  • The amendment does not specify how this new definition will be applied or enforced in traffic safety laws.
Amendment 1-0 to SB1148

Plain English: The amendment adds a new definition to Tennessee's traffic laws for what qualifies as a 'fully enclosed' vehicle.

  • Adds a new subsection (c) to Section 55-9-302 of the Tennessee Code Annotated, defining 'fully enclosed' vehicles as those with side panels, a roll bar or roof, and a windshield.
  • The amendment does not specify how this definition will be used in existing traffic laws.
  • It is unclear what specific changes to traffic regulations this new definition might trigger.

Bill History

  1. 2025-04-28 Tennessee General Assembly

    Effective date(s) 04/11/2025

  2. 2025-04-28 Tennessee General Assembly

    Pub. Ch. 197

  3. 2025-04-28 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. became Pub. Ch. 197

  4. 2025-04-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Governor.

  5. 2025-04-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Transmitted to Governor for his action.

  6. 2025-04-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Senate Speaker

  7. 2025-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by H. Speaker

  8. 2025-03-28 Tennessee General Assembly

    Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.

  9. 2025-03-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate, Ayes 27, Nays 1, PNV 1

  10. 2025-03-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - SA0149)

  11. 2025-03-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.

  12. 2025-03-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Companion House Bill substituted

  13. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Received from House, Passed on First Consideration

  14. 2025-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.

  15. 2025-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 3/27/2025

  16. 2025-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed H., as am., Ayes 91, Nays 2, PNV 2

  17. 2025-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA0116)

  18. 2025-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  19. 2025-03-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 3/24/2025

  20. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 3/20/2025

  21. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  22. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 8, Nays 0 PNV 1

  23. 2025-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee

  24. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  25. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  26. 2025-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  27. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Transportation Subcommittee for 3/11/2025

  28. 2025-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Transportation Subcommittee

  29. 2025-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Ref. to Transportation Committee

  30. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  31. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  32. 2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, caption bill, held on desk - pending amdt.

  33. 2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  34. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  35. 2025-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

ON MARCH 24, 2025, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 859
, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #1 rewrites the bill to, instead, define that "fully enclosed" means having side panels, a roll bar or roof, and a windshield with regard to crash helmet requirements not applying to autocycles that are fully enclosed.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 1148
By Crowe

HOUSE BILL 859
By Alexander

HB0859
002895
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 55,
relative to transportation.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-10-428(c), is amended by
deleting the language "December 1, 2025" and substituting instead the language "February 1,
2026".
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.