KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Tennessee

SB0213 • 2026

Motor Vehicles

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 55, Chapter 17 and Title 62, Chapter 19, relative to auctions of previously titled motor vehicles that are antique or unique.

Healthcare
Active

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

Sponsor
Gardenhire, Martin G
Last action
2025-04-08
Official status
Effective date(s) 10/17/2025
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The specific population parameters for Hamilton County are based on the 2020 federal census or any subsequent census, and the bill only applies within those exact population limits.

Auction Sales for Antique and Unique Cars

This bill allows auctions in Hamilton County to sell or buy antique or unique cars without a dealer license if they meet certain criteria.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows auction events in Hamilton County to sell or purchase previously titled antique or unique motor vehicles without needing a motor vehicle dealer license, provided the event is held at a municipal convention center and part of its proceeds are donated to a hospital neurological institute located within specific population parameters.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Auction organizers in Hamilton County who want to sell or buy antique or unique cars without needing a dealer license.
  • Hospital neurological institutes in Hamilton County that will receive donations from auction events.

Terms To Know

Antique and Unique Motor Vehicles
Older cars with special historical value or rare features.
Motor Vehicle Dealer License
A permit required to buy or sell vehicles commercially.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill only applies to auctions held in Hamilton County, Tennessee.
  • This law will expire on October 22, 2025.

Bill History

  1. 2025-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Effective date(s) 10/17/2025

  2. 2025-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Pub. Ch. 60

  3. 2025-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. became Pub. Ch. 60

  4. 2025-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Governor.

  5. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Transmitted to Governor for action.

  6. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by H. Speaker

  7. 2025-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Senate Speaker

  8. 2025-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Enrolled and ready for signatures

  9. 2025-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed H., Ayes 92, Nays 0, PNV 1

  10. 2025-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Subst. for comp. HB.

  11. 2025-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. SB subst.

  12. 2025-03-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Consent Calendar for 3/17/2025

  13. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 3/13/2025

  14. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee

  15. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Commerce Committee for 3/12/2025

  16. 2025-02-27 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  17. 2025-02-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  18. 2025-02-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

  19. 2025-02-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate, Ayes 33, Nays 0

  20. 2025-02-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Consent Calendar 2 for 2/24/2025

  21. 2025-02-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee

  22. 2025-02-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Meeting Canceled

  23. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Transportation and Safety Committee calendar for 2/19/2025

  24. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Commerce Committee for 2/19/2025

  25. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  26. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  27. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Business & Utilities Subcommittee for 2/12/2025

  28. 2025-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Business & Utilities Subcommittee

  29. 2025-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Commerce Committee

  30. 2025-01-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  31. 2025-01-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  32. 2025-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  33. 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 303
By Martin G

SENATE BILL 213
By Gardenhire

SB0213
001281
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 55,
Chapter 17 and Title 62, Chapter 19, relative to
auctions of previously titled motor vehicles that are
antique or unique.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-17-120, is amended by adding
the following as a new subsection:
( )
(1) Notwithstanding this part, a motor vehicle dealer license is not
required to sell or purchase previously titled antique or unique motor vehicles
through an auction format held in conjunction with a motor vehicle festival:
(A) Held at a municipal convention center, as defined in § 7-4-
101, located in a county with a population of not less than three hundred
sixty-six thousand two hundred (366,200) and not more than three
hundred sixty-six thousand three hundred (366,300), according to the
2020 federal census or any subsequent census; and
(B) For which a portion of the festival's proceeds are donated to a
hospital neurological institute located in a county with a population of not
less than three hundred sixty-six thousand two hundred (366,200) and not
more than three hundred sixty-six thousand three hundred (366,300),
according to the 2020 federal census or any subsequent census.
(2) This subsection ( ) is repealed on October 22, 2025.

- 2 - 001281

SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 62-19-128, is amended by adding
the following as a new subsection:
( )
(1) Notwithstanding subdivision (b)(9), a motor vehicle dealer license is
not required to sell or purchase previously titled antique or unique motor vehicles
through an auction format held in conjunction with a motor vehicle festival:
(A) Held at a municipal convention center, as defined in § 7-4-
101, located in a county with a population of not less than three hundred
sixty-six thousand two hundred (366,200) and not more than three
hundred sixty-six thousand three hundred (366,300), according to the
2020 federal census or any subsequent census; and
(B) For which a portion of the festival's proceeds are donated to a
hospital neurological institute located in a county with a population of not
less than three hundred sixty-six thousand two hundred (366,200) and not
more than three hundred sixty-six thousand three hundred (366,300),
according to the 2020 federal census or any subsequent census.
(2) This subsection ( ) is repealed on October 22, 2025.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect October 17, 2025, the public welfare requiring it.