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SB1069 • 2026

Motor Vehicles

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 55, Chapter 17 and Title 62, Chapter 19, relative to auctions of motor vehicles.

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Pody, McCalmon
Last action
2026-03-16
Official status
Comp. became Pub. Ch. 540
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The exact number of vehicles offered for sale and the requirement that the operator must have $25 million in net worth were not explicitly stated in the provided official source material.

Motor Vehicle Auctions in Tennessee

This act changes Tennessee's laws to allow certain motor vehicle auctions without needing a dealer license under specific conditions.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows auction operators to sell or purchase previously titled antique vehicles that are at least 25 years old or unique motor vehicles through an auction format in Wilson County, without needing a dealer license if the venue has over 20,000 seats and meets other requirements.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Auction operators who meet specific conditions can sell or purchase antique and unique motor vehicles without a dealer license.
  • People buying or selling these types of vehicles through auctions in Wilson County, Tennessee.

Terms To Know

Antique vehicle
A car that is at least 25 years old.
Unique motor vehicle
A special type of vehicle that stands out from regular cars.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The exemption for auction operators ends on June 30, 2027, unless the Tennessee General Assembly extends it.
  • This act only applies to auctions held in Wilson County with a seating capacity of at least 20,000.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

Amendment 1-0 to HB0974

Plain English: The amendment allows certain large-scale auctions of antique and unique vehicles without needing a motor vehicle dealer license under specific conditions.

  • Auctions meeting specified criteria can sell or purchase previously titled antique vehicles (at least 25 years old) or unique vehicles without requiring a motor vehicle dealer's license.
  • The auction must be held in a venue with at least 20,000 permanent seats located in a specific population range county and follow other detailed requirements.
  • The exact impact on local businesses or consumer protection is not specified in the amendment text.
Amendment 1-0 to SB1069

Plain English: The amendment allows certain large-scale auctions of antique and unique vehicles without needing a motor vehicle dealer license under specific conditions.

  • Auctions of antique or unique vehicles that meet specified criteria do not need a motor vehicle dealer license.
  • These auctions must be held in a venue with at least 20,000 seats located in a county with a population between 147,700 and 147,800 according to the latest census.
  • The auction operator can only hold one such event per year in Tennessee and must offer between 400 and 2,000 vehicles for sale.
  • Auction operators need a minimum net worth of $25 million.
  • This amendment will expire on June 30, 2026, unless the Tennessee General Assembly reenacts or extends it before that date.
Amendment 2-0 to SB1069

Plain English: The amendment changes a specific date from June 30, 2026 to June 30, 2027 in the bill.

  • Changes the deadline from June 30, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
  • The amendment text does not provide details about what this date change affects or why it is being changed.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. became Pub. Ch. 540

  2. 2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Effective date(s) 02/25/2026

  3. 2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Pub. Ch. 540

  4. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Governor.

  5. 2026-02-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Transmitted to Governor for his action.

  6. 2026-02-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Senate Speaker

  7. 2026-02-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by H. Speaker

  8. 2026-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.

  9. 2026-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. concurred in S. am. no. 2 Ayes 91, Nays 0 PNV 0 HB0974

  10. 2026-02-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Message Calendar for 2/12/2026

  11. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  12. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Companion House Bill substituted

  13. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 33, Nays 0

  14. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 2 - SA0458)

  15. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.

  16. 2026-01-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 2/2/2026

  17. 2026-01-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 11, Nays 0 PNV 0

  18. 2026-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 1/20/2026

  19. 2026-01-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee to 1/20/2026

  20. 2026-01-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 1/13/2026

  21. 2025-04-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/21/2025

  22. 2025-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/15/2025

  23. 2025-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rule #83(8) Suspended, to be heard in Senate Finance, Ways & Means Committee on 4/15/2025

  24. 2025-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Received from House, Passed on First Consideration

  25. 2025-04-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.

  26. 2025-04-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed H., as am., Ayes 97, Nays 0, PNV 0

  27. 2025-04-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA0076)

  28. 2025-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Finance, Ways & Means Committee / Behind Budget

  29. 2025-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/8/2025

  30. 2025-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rule #83(8) Suspended, to be heard in Senate Finance, Ways & Means Committee on 4/8/2025

  31. 2025-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly

    Re-refer to Senate Finance, Ways & Means Committee

  32. 2025-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0099)

  33. 2025-04-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/7/2025

  34. 2025-04-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/10/2025

  35. 2025-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/3/2025

  36. 2025-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee

  37. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Finance, Ways, and Means Committee for 4/1/2025

  38. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

  39. 2025-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  40. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 3/26/2025

  41. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 8, Nays 1 PNV 0

  42. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee

  43. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  44. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

  45. 2025-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor change.

  46. 2025-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  47. 2025-03-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  48. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  49. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Transportation and Safety Committee to 3/12/2025

  50. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  51. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  52. 2025-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Transportation and Safety Committee calendar for 3/5/2025

  53. 2025-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Business & Utilities Subcommittee for 3/5/2025

  54. 2025-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Business & Utilities Subcommittee

  55. 2025-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Ref. to Commerce Committee

  56. 2025-02-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Refer to Senate Transportation & Safety Committee

  57. 2025-02-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recalled from Senate Energy, Ag., & Natural Resources Committee

  58. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee

  59. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  60. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  61. 2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  62. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  63. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

ON APRIL 7, 2025, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND REFERRED SENATE BILL 1069, AS AMENDED, TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.

AMENDMENT #1 rewrites the bill to, instead, make the following revisions to present law:



Adds that a motor vehicle dealer license is not required to sell or purchase a previously titled antique vehicle that is at least 25 years of age or a unique motor vehicle through an auction format if (i) the auction is being held at a venue with a permanent seating capacity of at least 20,000 located in Wilson County, (ii) the auction operator conducts no more than one auction in this state per year, (ii) the action offers no less than 400 vehicles and no more than 2,000 vehicles for any one auction, and (iv) the auction operator has a minimum net worth of $25 million.



Removes the new provision above on June 30, 2026, unless such provision is reenacted or extended by the general assembly prior to that date.

ON APRIL 10, 2025, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 974, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #1 makes the same changes as described in Senate Amendment #1.

ON FEBRUARY 2, 2026, THE SENATE SUBSTITUTED HOUSE BILL 974 FOR SENATE BILL 1069, ADOPTED AMENDMENT #2, AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 974, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #2 changes licensure exemption repeal date from June 30, 2026, to June 30, 2027.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 974
By McCalmon

SENATE BILL 1069
By Pody

SB1069
001033
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 55,
Chapter 17 and Title 62, Chapter 19, relative to
auctions of motor vehicles.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-17-120(e)(2), is amended by
deleting the semicolon at the end of the subdivision and substituting instead:
, which may be sent electronically;
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.