Driver Licenses

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details on how temporary residents or visitors will be affected by this legislation.

Driver Licenses for Noncitizens

This bill requires Tennessee to redesign driver licenses and photo IDs for lawful permanent residents so they are easily distinguishable from those issued to U.S. citizens by using a visually distinctive colored background, starting January 1, 2026.

What This Bill Does

• Requires the Department of Safety to redesign driver licenses, instruction permits, intermediate driver licenses, photo identification licenses, and temporary licenses and permits for lawful permanent residents so they are easily distinguishable from those issued to U.S. citizens.
• Specifies that these redesigned documents must be printed on a visually distinctive colored background.
• Ensures that non-citizen licenses and permits provide the same driving privileges as citizen ones, starting January 1, 2026.

Who It Names or Affects

• Lawful permanent residents of the United States living in Tennessee who need driver licenses or photo IDs.
• The Department of Safety which will redesign and issue these documents.

Terms To Know

lawful permanent resident

A person who has been granted permission to live permanently in the United States by the U.S. government.

Department of Safety

The state agency responsible for issuing driver licenses and photo identification cards.

Limits and Unknowns

• Does not specify what color or design will be used to distinguish non-citizen documents.
• It is unclear how the bill will affect temporary residents or visitors who need licenses.

Official Summary Text

This bill requires

t
he department of safety
("department") to
redesign driver licenses, instruction permits, intermediate driver licenses, photo identification licenses
, and temporary licenses and p
ermits
issued to lawful permanent residents of the United States, so that
such licenses and permits
may be easily distinguished from
licenses and permits
issued to residents of this state who are United States citizens. The
redesigned
licenses and permits
must be printed on a visually distinctive colored background.

No later than January 1, 2026, this bill requires t
he department
to
begin issuing the redesigned licenses and permits to qualified applicants.

The person issued
,
or for whom was renewed
,
a l
icense or permit is entitled to the same driving privileges and, if applicable, is subject to the same restrictions authorized by the previously issued license or permit.
Additionally, t
he redesigned license or permit must also be accepted as proof of ide
ntity in the same manner as the previously issued license or permit.

This bill requires that

a
person issued
,
or for whom was renewed
,
a license or permit who, upon renewal of the license or permit, submits documentation that the applicant is a citizen
of the United States, be issued a license or permit that is the same design as the license or permit issued to residents of this state who are United States citizens.

Current Bill Text

HOUSE BILL 11
By Cepicky

SENATE BILL 5
By Hensley

SB0005
000254
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 55,
Chapter 50, relative to the issuance of driver
licenses and photo identification to noncitizens.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1.
(a) The department of safety shall redesign driver licenses, instruction permits,
intermediate driver licenses, and photo identification licenses issued to lawful permanent
residents of the United States pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-50-
303(a)(9), and the temporary licenses and permits described in Tennessee Code
Annotated, Section 55-50-331(g), so that they may be easily distinguished from driver
licenses, instruction permits, intermediate driver licenses, and photo identification
licenses issued to residents of this state who are United States citizens. The driver
licenses, instruction permits, intermediate driver licenses, photo identification licenses,
and temporary licenses and permits must be printed on a visually distinctive colored
background.
(b) The department of safety shall begin issuing the redesigned licenses and
permits to qualified applicants no later than January 1, 2026.
(c) The person issued or for whom was renewed a license or permit pursuant to
subsection (a) is entitled to the same driving privileges and, if applicable, is subject to
the same restrictions authorized by the previously issued license or permit. The
redesigned license or permit must also be accepted as proof of identity in the same
manner as the previously issued license or permit.

- 2 - 000254

(d) A person issued or for whom was renewed a license or permit pursuant to
subsection (a) who, upon renewal of the license or permit, submits documentation that
the applicant is a citizen of the United States pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated,
Section 55-50-321(c)(1)(C)(i), shall be issued a license or permit that is the same design
as the license or permit issued to residents of this state who are United States citizens.
SECTION 2. For purposes of redesigning licenses and permits, this act takes effect
upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it. For all other purposes, this act takes effect
January 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.