Special License Plates

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and text do not provide details on the funding allocation for each specialty plate, leaving this information uncertain.

Special License Plates Act

This bill creates new specialty license plates for various organizations and extends deadlines for some existing plates to meet issuance requirements.

What This Bill Does

• Creates new specialty earmarked license plates for specific parks, sports teams, charities, cultural groups, and other causes.
• Establishes a distinctive license plate for recipients of military honors such as the Airman's Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Medal, Soldier's Medal, and Meritorious Service Medal.
• Extends deadlines until July 1, 2027, for some existing specialty plates to meet issuance requirements.
• Authorizes electronic submission of documentation for holders of memorial and military registration plates.

Who It Names or Affects

• People who want to purchase specialty license plates for their vehicles.
• Veterans and recipients of military honors.
• Charities, parks, sports teams, cultural organizations, and other groups in Tennessee.
• The Department of Revenue in Tennessee.

Terms To Know

Specialty Earmarked License Plates

License plates that are designed for specific groups or causes and the funds generated from their sale go to support those groups or causes.

Distinctive License Plate

A unique license plate design given to individuals who have received certain military honors.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify how much funding each specialty plate will generate.
• It is unclear which organizations or individuals will be responsible for designing and promoting the new plates.
• Some deadlines for meeting issuance requirements are extended, but it's not clear what happens if those deadlines are still missed.

Official Summary Text

ON MARCH 9, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 1477, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #1 rewrites the bill to, instead, make the following revisions to present law regarding license plates:

NEW SPECIALTY EARMARKED LICENSE PLATES



Creates a new specialty earmarked plate for the following:
o

Coalmont OHV Park
o

Flatrock Motorsports Park
o

Blackman Blaze
o

International Bluegrass Music Association
o

Sky City Entrepreneur Center
o

Local Journalism Matters
o

Knoxville Ice Bears
o

Quail Forever
o

Adopt a Golden
o

Domestic Violence and Assault Awareness and Prevention
o

Back the Blue
o

Cowboy Up
o

Christian Brothers High School
o

Nashville Bourbon Auction
o

The Bridge House
o

LaunchTN
o

Childhood Cancer Awareness
o

Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary or Service
o

Sons of the American Revolution
o

Blacksmithing
o

Ohio State University
o

Appalachia Service Project
o

POD256
o

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
o

Foodies of TN
o

Tennessee Aviation

CULTURAL LICENSE PLATES



Creates a new, distinctive license plate for recipients of the:
o

Airman's Medal
o

Navy and Marine Corps Medal
o

Soldier's Medal
o

Meritorious Service Medal

EXTENSIONS



Grants an extension until July 1, 2027, for the following new specialty earmarked license plates to meet applicable minimum issuance requirements:

o

Man2Man Prostate Cancer Group
o

Respiratory Care
o

YMCA
o

The Elephant Sanctuary
o

Friends of Warner Parks
o

STAR Riding Therapy
o

Singing for Change
o

Tennessee Environment & Restoration
o

Nashville Humane Society
o

Nashville Sounds
o

Historic Jonesborough
o

Golfer
o

Niswonger Children's Hospital at Johnson City Medical Center
o

Tennessee Ronald McDonald House Charities
o

Slow Down Move Over
o

Northeast State Community College
o

End Overdose
o

Rolling Thunder
o

Order of the Eastern Star
o

Support Our Veterans

MISCELLANEOUS



Authorizes the funds generated from the issuance of the Sycamore Shoals specialty earmarked license plate to also be used to support historical projects within Carter County and support charitable nonprofit organizations based in Carter County whose primary mission is (i) animal protection and welfare; (ii) food banks and food pantries; (iii) fire prevention, protection, and control; (iv) ambulance and emergency medical transport services; and (v) after school and summer daycare.



Requires that the minimum issuance requirements for specialty earmarked license plates for specific fraternities and sororities be calculated in the aggregate and not by specific fraternity or sorority.



Requires the Delta Sigma Theta specialty earmarked plate be designed in consultation with an authorized representative of Delta Sigma Theta and to contain the colors, logo, or other emblem or design distinctive to the Delta Sigma Theta sorority.



Authorizes the funds generated from the issuance of the Delta Sigma Theta specialty earmarked plate be allocated to the Delta Research and Educational Foundation.

ON APRIL 6, 2026, THE HOUSE SUBSTITUTED SENATE BILL 1477 FOR HOUSE BILL 1751, ADOPTED AMENDMENT #2, AND PASSED SENATE BILL 1477, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #2 grants an extension until July 1, 2027, for the ALS Research new specialty to meet the applicable minimum issuance requirements.

ON APRIL 13, 2026, THE SENATE CONCURRED IN HOUSE AMENDMENT #2.

Current Bill Text

SENATE BILL 1477
By Massey

HOUSE BILL 1751
By Howell
HB1751
009699
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 55,
Chapter 4, relative to license plates.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-4-251(b), is amended by adding
the following at the end of the subsection:
The department may permit a holder to submit the proof electronically.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.