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SB0641 • 2026

Motor Vehicles

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 55, Chapter 17, relative to motor vehicle dealer licenses.

Active

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

Sponsor
Campbell, Love
Last action
2025-03-19
Official status
Action deferred in Senate Transportation & Safety Committee to first caledar of 2026
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details on how many nonprofits are eligible for licenses, or if there are limits on vehicle types or numbers donated/repaired.

Motor Vehicle Dealer Licenses for Nonprofit Religious Organizations

This bill allows nonprofit religious organizations in Tennessee to apply for motor vehicle dealer licenses without needing a physical location if they meet certain requirements.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows nonprofit religious organizations without an established place of business to apply for motor vehicle dealer licenses.
  • Requires the organization to be organized or incorporated in Tennessee and have its certificate of incorporation or authority up-to-date with the state secretary.
  • Requires the organization to have a program that accepts car donations and donates cars to individuals who need them, as well as providing free repair services.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Nonprofit religious organizations in Tennessee
  • Individuals receiving donated vehicles or free repairs from these nonprofits

Terms To Know

Motor vehicle dealer license
A permit that allows a business to sell cars and other motor vehicles.
Nonprofit religious organization
An organization that is not set up to make money, focuses on religious activities, and is registered in the state of Tennessee.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how many nonprofits can get these licenses.
  • It's unclear if there are limits on the types or number of vehicles that can be donated or repaired by these organizations.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Taken off notice for cal. in Transportation Committee

  2. 2026-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Transportation Committee for 1/20/2026

  3. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Transportation & Safety Committee to first caledar of 2026

  4. 2025-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Transportation Committee to First Calendar of 2026

  5. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Transportation and Safety Committee calendar for 3/19/2025

  6. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Transportation Committee for 3/18/2025

  7. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  8. 2025-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  9. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Transportation Subcommittee for 3/11/2025

  10. 2025-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Taken off notice for cal in s/c Transportation Subcommittee of Transportation Committee

  11. 2025-02-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Transportation Subcommittee for 2/25/2025

  12. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  13. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  14. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Transportation Subcommittee

  15. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Transportation Committee

  16. 2025-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  17. 2025-01-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  18. 2025-01-29 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
HOUSE BILL 536
By Love

SENATE BILL 641
By Campbell

SB0641
002018
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 55,
Chapter 17, relative to motor vehicle dealer
licenses.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 55, Chapter 17, Part 1, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
Notwithstanding this chapter or another law to the contrary, a motor vehicle
dealer applicant without an established place of business is eligible for a motor vehicle
dealer license if the applicant is a nonprofit religious organization that:
(1) Is organized or incorporated in this state;
(2) Has its certificate of incorporation or certificate of authority in good
standing with the secretary of state; and
(3) Has an established program in this state of receiving donations of
motor vehicles that it donates to individuals with demonstrated need of a motor
vehicle, and providing free vehicle repair services to individuals with
demonstrated need of such services, which donations and services are
necessary to the individual's effort to become a self-sufficient member of the
workforce.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.