HB1643 • 2026

Financial Responsibility Law

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-12-126, relative to proof of insurance.

Active

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

Sponsor: Lamberth, Johnson
Last action: 2026-03-17
Official status: Taken off notice for cal in s/c Transportation Subcommittee of Transportation Committee
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and text do not mention specific costs for software updates beyond noting that there could be an additional cost if the current contract is exhausted.

Financial Responsibility Law

This bill changes the duration for which drivers must provide proof of car insurance from the period of suspension or revocation to a minimum of one year, whichever is longer.

What This Bill Does

Changes the time a driver needs to show proof of car insurance from the period of suspension or revocation to at least one year, whichever is longer.
Requires the Department of Safety to release someone's requirement to prove car insurance after one year or the period of suspension/revocation, if no new offenses occurred during that time.

Who It Names or Affects

Drivers whose licenses are suspended or revoked due to not having car insurance proof
The Tennessee Department of Safety

Terms To Know

Financial Responsibility Law: A law that requires drivers to prove they can pay for damages if they cause an accident.
Suspension or Revocation: When a driver's license is taken away temporarily (suspension) or permanently (revocation).

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how much it will cost if the current contract for software updates runs out.
It applies to offenses committed on or after January 1, 2027.

Bill History

2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly
Taken off notice for cal in s/c Transportation Subcommittee of Transportation Committee
2026-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly
Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.
2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Transportation Subcommittee for 3/17/2026
2026-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly
Action Def. in s/c Transportation Subcommittee to 3/17/2026
2026-03-09 Tennessee General Assembly
Engrossed; ready for transmission to House
2026-03-09 Tennessee General Assembly
Passed Senate, Ayes 32, Nays 0
2026-03-06 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Consent Calendar 2 for 3/9/2026
2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Transportation Subcommittee for 3/10/2026
2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly
Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee
2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Transportation and Safety Committee calendar for 3/4/2026
2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Transportation and Safety Committee
2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly
Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly
Assigned to s/c Transportation Subcommittee
2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly
P2C, ref. to Transportation Committee
2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction
2026-01-15 Tennessee General Assembly
Intro., P1C.
2026-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Except for
certain driver license
suspensions,
present law requires
a person who is required to provide proof of financial responsibility
to
maintain
such
proof for the period of the revocation or suspension.
This bill requires such person to
maintain
such
proof for a minimum of one year, or for the period of the revocation or suspension, whichever is longer.

Present law authorizes the
department of safety
to
release a person's requirement to provide proof of financial responsibility after the expiration of the period of suspension or revocation, if the department's records establish that during th
at period
, the person was not convicted of an additional offense authorizing or requiring the suspension or revocation of the person's license, nor was the person's license suspended, revoked, prohibited, or cancelled due to a separate violation of law.
This bill, in
stead, requires t
he department
to
release a person's requirement to provide proof of financial responsibility after one year, or for the period of the revocation or suspension, whichever is longer
,
if the person was not convicted of an additional offense
in the same manner as stated above.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SENATE BILL 1882
By Johnson

HOUSE BILL 1643
By Lamberth
HB1643
010046
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Section
55-12-126, relative to proof of insurance.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-12-126(a), is amended by
deleting the subsection and substituting:
(a) Except for suspensions under § 55-12-115, and the proof required as
provided in § 55-12-114, a person who is required to provide proof of financial
responsibility shall maintain that proof for a minimum of one (1) year, or for the period of
the revocation or suspension, whichever is longer. If a person elects to use a policy of
insurance and financial responsibility insurance certificate as proof of financial
responsibility under this section, then the effective date on the financial responsibility
certificate is the date upon which financial responsibility was proven, and financial
responsibility must be maintained for the period of the suspension or revocation.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-12-126(b)(2), is amended by
deleting the subdivision and substituting:
(2) If during the period requiring proof of financial responsibility under subsection
(a), the person filed proof of another policy or bond meeting the requirements of this
part, then the person's license and registration shall not be suspended or revoked as
required in subdivision (b)(1).
SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-12-126(d), is amended by
deleting the subsection and substituting:
(d) The department of safety shall release a person's requirement to provide
proof of financial responsibility after the expiration of the period required by subsection

- 2 - 010046

(a), if the department of safety's records establish that during the period, the person was
not convicted of an additional offense authorizing or requiring the suspension or
revocation of the person's license, nor was the person's license suspended, revoked,
prohibited, or cancelled due to a separate violation of law. If the department of safety,
pursuant to this subsection (d), releases the requirement that a person furnish proof of
financial responsibility, and if the person's motor vehicle registration has been
suspended or revoked because of the person's failure to furnish that proof, then the
commissioner of safety shall request that the commissioner of revenue reinstate the
person's registration and, upon payment to the commissioner of revenue of the
appropriate motor vehicle registration fees provided by § 55-4-111, § 55-4-112, or § 55-
4-113, the registration must be reinstated immediately. Notwithstanding another law to
the contrary, this subsection (d) does not apply if there is an unsatisfied judgment based
on a motor vehicle accident.
SECTION 4. This act takes effect January 1, 2027, the public welfare requiring it, and
applies to offenses committed on or after that date.