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SB0199 • 2026

Traffic Safety

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 8; Title 54; Title 55; Title 65 and Title 67, relative to transportation.

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

Sponsor
Massey, Howell
Last action
2025-02-10
Official status
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Transportation and Safety Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and text do not provide specific details about how the designation will be added or what it will say in the VTRS database or on driver licenses.

Traffic Safety Act

This bill allows Tennessee's commissioner of revenue and department of safety to inform people about an option in their driver’s license or vehicle registration system that can help those with certain disabilities communicate their needs.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows the commissioner of revenue to take reasonable measures to publicize the availability of designating a need for assistance with expressive language or communicating needs due to an intellectual or developmental disability or medical condition in the Vehicle Title and Registration System (VTRS) database.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People with intellectual, developmental disabilities, or medical conditions affecting communication who have a Tennessee driver’s license or vehicle registration.

Terms To Know

Vehicle Title and Registration System (VTRS)
A database where information about vehicles and their owners is stored in Tennessee.
Intellectual Disability
A condition that affects a person's ability to learn, reason, and communicate.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how the information will be added or what exactly it will say.
  • It is unclear if there are any penalties for misuse of this system.

Bill History

  1. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Transportation and Safety Committee

  2. 2025-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, caption bill, held on desk - pending amdt.

  3. 2025-01-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  4. 2025-01-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  5. 2025-01-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  6. 2025-01-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 209
By Howell

SENATE BILL 199
By Massey

SB0199
000125
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4;
Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 8; Title 54; Title 55;
Title 65 and Title 67, relative to transportation.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-21-304, is amended by adding
the following as a new subsection:
(c) The commissioner may take reasonable measures to publicize the availability
of the option described in this part to potential participants.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-50-307, is amended by adding
the following as a new subsection (d) and redesignating existing subsection (d) accordingly:
(d) The department may take reasonable measures to publicize the availability
of the option described in this section to potential participants.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.