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SB0653 • 2026

Special License Plates

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 55, Chapter 4, relative to specialty license plates benefitting state historic sites.

Active

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

Sponsor
Crowe, Hicks T
Last action
2025-03-19
Official status
Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Transportation and Safety Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific information about whether the bill applies retroactively or only prospectively.

Special License Plates for State Historic Sites

This bill allows nonprofit organizations to create special license plates that support state historic sites without needing a minimum number of initial or renewal plate sales.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows nonprofits to make special license plates that help fund state historic sites.
  • Exempts these plates from the rule requiring at least 1,000 plates sold when they are first made.
  • Also removes the requirement for 800 plates to be sold each time the plates need to be renewed.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Nonprofit organizations that support state historic sites
  • People who buy special license plates

Terms To Know

Specialty earmarked license plate
A type of license plate with a specific design or message, and the money from selling it goes to a certain cause.
State historic site
A place in Tennessee that has been recognized for its historical importance by the state's Historical Commission.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not change how much money goes to the plates' organizations.
  • It only affects nonprofits working with state historic sites, not other types of nonprofits or government agencies.
  • Revenue details are provided for future years but do not specify exact uses.

Bill History

  1. 2025-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Returned to the Clerk's Desk.

  2. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Transportation and Safety Committee

  3. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Transportation Committee for 3/25/2025

  4. 2025-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Transportation Committee to 3/25/2025

  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

    Action deferred in Senate Transportation and Safety Committee to 3/19/2025

  7. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  8. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Transportation and Safety Committee calendar for 3/12/2025

  9. 2025-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Transportation Committee to 3/18/2025

  10. 2025-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Transportation Committee for 3/4/2025

  11. 2025-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  12. 2025-02-19 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  13. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  14. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  15. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Transportation Subcommittee

  16. 2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Transportation Committee

  17. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  18. 2025-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  19. 2025-01-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 655
By Hicks T

SENATE BILL 653
By Crowe

SB0653
000099
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 55,
Chapter 4, relative to specialty license plates
benefitting state historic sites.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-4-202, is amended by adding the
following as a new subsection:
(m) Subdivision (k)(1) does not apply to a new specialty earmarked license plate
authorized by § 55-4-311, § 55-4-312, § 55-4-314, this part, or part 3 of this chapter, if
the funds produced from the sale of the plate are allocated to, and used in whole or in
part by, a nonprofit organization to support the programs and operations of a site
designated as a state historic site by the Tennessee historical commission.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it,
and applies to new specialty earmarked license plates authorized prior to, and on or after the
effective date of this act, the public welfare requiring it.