HB1708 • 2026

Motor Vehicles

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 55, Chapter 4; Title 55, Chapter 50 and Title 65, Chapter 15, relative to motor vehicles.

Education Taxes

Active

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

Sponsor: Capley, Taylor
Last action: 2026-04-16
Official status: H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/20/2026
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide specific details on the financial impact or resource availability for software updates.

Driver License Requirements and Vehicle Registration

This bill changes Tennessee's driver license rules for non-English speakers by issuing restricted licenses valid only for one year and requires proof of legal status to register vehicles.

What This Bill Does

Allows people who can't speak or read English well enough to take the driving test in another language, but limits their license to one year and restricts its use.
Requires these drivers to retake the written exam in English after a year without help from translators or devices.
Makes it necessary for vehicle owners to prove they are U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, or have temporary legal status before registering cars.
Adds a notice about legal residency requirements when renewing car registrations.

Who It Names or Affects

People who need to take the driving test but don't speak English well enough.
Vehicle owners needing to register or renew their vehicle registration in Tennessee.

Terms To Know

Restricted License: A driver license that is limited and can only be used for specific purposes, like going to work or school.
Lawful Permanent Resident: Someone who has been given permission by the U.S. government to live and work in the country permanently.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how many people will be affected or what the financial impact might be.
It's unclear if there are enough resources available for updating software systems as required by this bill.

Amendments

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

HA0641

Amendment 1-0 to HB1708

Plain English: House Transportation 1 Amendment No.

House Transportation 1 Amendment No.
1 to HB1708 Howell Signature of Sponsor AMEND Senate Bill No.
1889 House Bill No.
1708* HA0641 015043 - 1 - by deleting all language after the enacting clause and substituting instead: SECTION 1.

HA1206

Amendment 2-0 to HB1708

Plain English: The amendment changes how driver license exams are given in Tennessee for people who can't read and write certain Native American languages.

People applying for a driver's license who cannot speak or read Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek (Muscogee), Yuchi, or Shawnee may take the written exam in another language offered by the department.
When renewing their license after having a restricted license, applicants must retake only the written test and it must be given in one of those Native American languages. They cannot use any help like dictionaries or interpreters during this re-exam.
For people with hearing impairments that affect their ability to speak these languages sufficiently but who can read and write them, a doctor's note is required.

The amendment does not specify which other languages applicants may take the exam in if they cannot use Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek (Muscogee), Yuchi, or Shawnee.
It is unclear how this change will affect people who do not speak any of these Native American languages and need a driver's license.

SA0651

Amendment 1-0 to SB1889

Plain English: Senate Transportation and Safety 1 Amendment No.

Senate Transportation and Safety 1 Amendment No.
1 to SB1889 Massey Signature of Sponsor AMEND Senate Bill No.
1889 House Bill No.
1708* SA0651 014566 - 1 - by deleting subdivision (k)(1)(B) in SECTION 1 and substituting instead: (B) If the department issues a driver license or intermediate driver license pursuant to subdivision (k)(1)(A), then the license must be non-renewable and valid for only thirty-six (36) months.

Bill History

2026-04-16 Tennessee General Assembly
H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/20/2026
2026-04-16 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/20/2026
2026-04-15 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/16/2026
2026-04-15 Tennessee General Assembly
Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee
2026-04-15 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. Finance, Ways, and Means Committee for 4/15/2026
2026-04-15 Tennessee General Assembly
Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
2026-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/21/2026
2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2026
2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly
Action Def. in s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee to the Drivers License Calendar
2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 3/18/2026
2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly
Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee Ayes 7, Nays 1 PNV 1
2026-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly
Assigned to s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee
2026-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly
Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. Transportation Committee for 3/10/2026
2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Transportation and Safety Committee calendar for 3/11/2026
2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly
Action deferred in Senate Transportation and Safety Committee to 3/11/2026
2026-03-03 Tennessee General Assembly
Sponsor(s) Added.
2026-03-03 Tennessee General Assembly
Action def. in Transportation Committee to 3/10/2026
2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. Transportation Committee for 3/3/2026
2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Transportation and Safety Committee calendar for 3/4/2026
2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly
Action deferred in Senate Transportation and Safety Committee to 3/4/2026
2026-02-18 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Transportation and Safety Committee calendar for 2/25/2026
2026-02-18 Tennessee General Assembly
Action deferred in Senate Transportation and Safety Committee to 2/25/2026
2026-02-17 Tennessee General Assembly
Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Transportation Committee
2026-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Transportation Subcommittee for 2/17/2026
2026-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Transportation and Safety Committee calendar for 2/18/2026
2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Transportation and Safety Committee
2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly
Assigned to s/c Transportation Subcommittee
2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly
P2C, ref. to Transportation Committee
2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly
Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly
Sponsor(s) Added.
2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly
Intro., P1C.
2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction
2026-01-15 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

The Uniform Classified and Commercial Driver License Act of 1988 requires the
department of
safety to examine every applicant for a driver license, intermediate driver license, learner permit, temporary driver license, temporary learner permit, and temporary intermediate driver license. Such examination may include a written examination.

WRITTEN EXAMINATIONS

If an applicant for a driver license or intermediate driver license is unable to speak and read in English, then this bill authorizes the written examination required for licensure to be administered in a language other than English. However, if the exa
mination is provided in a language other than English, then any issued license must be restricted, non-renewable, and valid only for one year. Additionally, such restricted license is only valid for the limited purpose of driving to and from work, medica
l
appointments, or an educational institution.

Once such restricted license has expired, this bill requires the applicant to retake and pass the written examination in English without using a translation dictionary, electronic device, or interpreter to complete the re-examination.

This bill clarifies that the provisions above do not apply to an applicant who is unable to speak the English language sufficiently due to a hearing impairment, but is otherwise capable of reading and writing in the English language.

REQUIREMENTS FOR MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION

Present law requires any motor vehicle operating on the streets or highways of this state to be registered. This bill prohibits the commissioner of revenue or a county clerk from processing an initial issuance or renewal registration of a motor vehicle
until the application provides documentation that the applicant is (i) a citizen of the United States, (ii) a lawful permanent resident of the United States, or (iii) a person whose temporary presence has been authorized by the federal government. A Tenn
es
see driver license, Tennessee

temporary driver license, Tennessee photo identification license, or Tennessee temporary photo identification license satisfies this documentation requirement. Providing electronic images of such licenses on a cellphone or other portable device is accept
able.

This bill also requires every registration or renewal of registration to be accompanied with a notice, as described in the bill, that the owner or operator is required to be a United States citizen, lawful permanent resident, or temporary lawful resident.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SENATE BILL 1889
By Taylor

HOUSE BILL 1708
By Capley
HB1708
011205
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 55,
Chapter 4; Title 55, Chapter 50 and Title 65,
Chapter 15, relative to motor vehicles.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-50-322, is amended by adding
the following as a new subsection (k) and redesignating the existing subsection (k) as
subsection (l):
(k)
(1)
(A) If an applicant for a driver license or intermediate driver
license is unable to speak and read the English language, then the
applicant may be administered the written examination in a language
other than English pursuant to this subdivision (k)(1).
(B) If the department issues a driver license or intermediate driver
license pursuant to subdivision (k)(1)(A), the license must be a restricted
license that is non-renewable, valid for only one (1) year, and granted for
the limited purposes of travelling to and from an educational institution
during the institution's regular hours, if the applicant is enrolled at an
educational institution; to and from and working at the applicant's regular
place of employment; and to and from the applicant's medical
appointments.
(C) Upon expiration of the restricted license issued pursuant to
this subdivision (k)(1), to obtain a driver license or intermediate driver

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license, the applicant shall retake only the written examination and it must
be administered to the applicant in English only. The applicant shall not
use a translation dictionary, an electronic device, or an interpreter to
assist with the administration of the re-examination.
(2) Subdivision (k)(1) does not apply to an applicant who is unable to
speak the English language sufficiently, is capable of reading and writing in the
English language, and presents a written statement from a physician that the
applicant has a hearing impairment that impacts the applicant's ability to speak
the English language sufficiently.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 55, Chapter 4, Part 1, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
55-4-144.
(a) The commissioner of revenue or a county clerk shall not process an
application for initial issuance or renewal of registration of a motor vehicle until the
applicant provides documentation, whether in paper or electronic format, that the
applicant is:
(1) A citizen of the United States;
(2) A lawful permanent resident of the United States; or
(3) A person whose presence in the United States has been authorized
by the federal government for a specific purpose and for a specified period of
authorized stay.
(b) A Tennessee driver license or Tennessee photo identification license
constitutes satisfactory proof of subdivision (a)(1), and a Tennessee temporary driver
license or Tennessee temporary photo identification license constitutes satisfactory proof
of subdivision (a)(2) or (a)(3).

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(c) For purposes of this section, acceptable electronic formats include display of
electronic images on a cell phone or any other type of portable electronic device.
(d) Every registration or renewal of registration must be accompanied by the
following notice:
THE OWNER AND/OR OPERATOR OF THIS VEHICLE IS REQUIRED
TO BE A UNITED STATES CITIZEN, LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENT, OR
TEMPORARY LAWFUL RESIDENT PURSUANT TO TENNESSEE CODE
ANNOTATED, § 55-4-144.
SECTION 3. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance
is held invalid, then the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of the act that
can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to that end, the provisions of
this act are severable.
SECTION 4. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.