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

SB1300 • 2026

Financial Responsibility Law

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-12-139, relative to proof of financial responsibility.

Taxes
Enacted

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

Sponsor
Johnson, Lamberth
Last action
2025-04-04
Official status
Comp. became Pub. Ch. 83
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide details on how many people are affected or what changes it might bring to daily life, so these points remain speculative and were removed from the explanation.

Financial Responsibility Law

This law changes who issues certificates for proof of financial responsibility in Tennessee from the commissioner of safety to the commissioner of revenue.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the commissioner responsible for issuing certificates from the commissioner of safety to the commissioner of revenue.
  • Updates the relevant section in Tennessee's code about proof of financial responsibility.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Drivers who need to prove they have financial responsibility for car accidents.
  • The commissioner of revenue and the former commissioner of safety.

Terms To Know

Financial Responsibility Law
A law that requires drivers to show they can pay for damages if they are in a car accident.
Certificate
A document issued by the government showing proof of something, like financial responsibility.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The exact date this law will start is January 1, 2026.
  • It does not specify how many people are affected or what changes it might bring to daily life.

Bill History

  1. 2025-04-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. became Pub. Ch. 83

  2. 2025-04-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Effective date(s) 01/01/2026

  3. 2025-04-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Pub. Ch. 83

  4. 2025-03-28 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Governor.

  5. 2025-03-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Transmitted to Governor for his action.

  6. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Senate Speaker

  7. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by H. Speaker

  8. 2025-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.

  9. 2025-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Companion House Bill substituted

  10. 2025-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate, Ayes 30, Nays 0

  11. 2025-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.

  12. 2025-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.

  13. 2025-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed H., Ayes 95, Nays 0, PNV 0

  14. 2025-03-07 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Consent Calendar 2 for 3/10/2025

  15. 2025-03-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Consent Calendar for 3/10/2025

  16. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 3/6/2025

  17. 2025-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee

  18. 2025-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee

  19. 2025-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Commerce and Labor Committee calendar for 3/4/2025

  20. 2025-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Commerce and Labor Committee calendar for 3/4/2025

  21. 2025-02-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Insurance Committee for 2/26/2025

  22. 2025-02-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Meeting Canceled

  23. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Commerce and Labor Committee

  24. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  25. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  26. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  27. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  28. 2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  29. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Insurance Subcommittee for 2/12/2025

  30. 2025-01-28 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Insurance Subcommittee

  31. 2025-01-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Ref. to Insurance Committee

  32. 2025-01-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C held on desk, pending appointment of Standing Committees

  33. 2025-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  34. 2025-01-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 119
By Lamberth

SENATE BILL 1300
By Johnson

SB1300
000174
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Section
55-12-139, relative to proof of financial
responsibility.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-12-139(b)(2)(B), is amended by
deleting "commissioner of safety" and substituting "commissioner of revenue".
SECTION 2. This act takes effect January 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.