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HB1790 • 2026

School Transportation

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 5-8-102; Title 49 and Title 55, relative to school bus transportation.

Education
Active

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

Sponsor
Sparks, Bowling
Last action
2026-04-08
Official status
Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2026
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

It's unclear how many people will apply for school bus endorsements now that the age requirement is lower.

School Bus Driver Age Requirement Change

This bill lowers the minimum age for becoming a school bus driver in Tennessee from 25 to 23 and removes certain requirements for veterans applying for endorsements.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the law so that people who are at least 23 years old can apply to become school bus drivers, instead of needing to be 25.
  • Removes a requirement for veterans to provide proof of honorable discharge when applying for a school bus endorsement.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who want to become school bus drivers in Tennessee
  • Local education boards and public charter schools

Terms To Know

endorsement
A special permission added to a driver's license that allows someone to drive certain types of vehicles, like school buses.
veteran
Someone who has served in the military and is now retired or no longer active duty.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill requires updates to a software system used by the Department of Safety, which might cost up to $26,000 if current contracts do not cover it.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2026

  2. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee to the Driver License Calendar

  3. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/8/2026

  4. 2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee

  5. 2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass; ref to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

  6. 2026-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.

  7. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Transportation Committee for 3/24/2026

  8. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  9. 2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

  10. 2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate, Ayes 32, Nays 0

  11. 2026-03-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Consent Calendar 2 for 3/16/2026

  12. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Transportation Subcommittee for 3/17/2026

  13. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee

  14. 2026-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Transportation Subcommittee to 3/17/2026

  15. 2026-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Education Committee calendar for 3/11/2026

  16. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Transportation Subcommittee for 3/10/2026

  17. 2026-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  18. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Education Committee

  19. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Transportation Subcommittee

  20. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Transportation Committee

  21. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  22. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  23. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  24. 2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Present law requires a driver of a school bus to obtain a school bus endorsement on their driver license. In order to be eligible for such an endorsement, present law requires the applicant to be at least 25. This bill lowers the eligibility age to 23.

Present law requires an applicant for an initial school bus endorsement to submit to the department of safety a certified copy of the applicant's certificate of release or discharge from active duty, if the applicant is an honorably discharged veteran, o
r a letter recommending the applicant to operate a school bus. This bill eliminates that requirement.

Present law authorizes the county board of education to adopt rules prescribing the qualifications of school bus drivers in the interest of the safety and health of school pupils. This bill clarifies that such authorization is limited to those requireme
nts a driver must meet to be eligible to obtain a school bus endorsement.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 2121
By Bowling

HOUSE BILL 1790
By Sparks
HB1790
011284
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 5-
8-102; Title 49 and Title 55, relative to school bus
transportation.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-50-302(d), is amended by
deleting subdivision (1) and substituting:
(1) The applicant is at least twenty-three (23) years of age;
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-50-302, is amended by deleting
subsection (e).
SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-6-2107, is amended by deleting
subsection (b) and substituting:
(b) Subject to § 55-50-302(d), local boards of education and public charter
school governing bodies may adopt policies prescribing the qualifications of school bus
drivers in the interest of the safety and health of school pupils.
SECTION 4. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.