Driver Licenses

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not explicitly state that the Department of Safety must notify released inmates about their renewed or extended licenses within three days, although it is implied in the context.

Driver Licenses for Released Inmates

This bill changes Tennessee laws to allow released inmates who had valid driver licenses before incarceration to get new ones or have their old licenses extended.

What This Bill Does

• Allows the Department of Correction to help released inmates get a driver license if they had one that was valid and in good standing before going to prison.
• Extends the expiration date of an inmate's driver license by six months after release if it expired during incarceration or within six months of discharge, provided it was valid when incarcerated.
• Requires the Department of Safety to notify released inmates about their renewed or extended licenses within three days and instruct them on how to renew their licenses according to current laws.
• Directs both departments to create a data-sharing agreement to exchange necessary information for implementing these changes.
• Gives the Departments of Correction and Safety authority to make rules and policies to carry out this bill.

Who It Names or Affects

• Released inmates who had valid driver licenses before going to prison
• Departments of Correction and Safety

Terms To Know

Driver License in Good Standing

A license that is valid and not suspended, revoked, or canceled at the time of incarceration.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify what happens if an inmate's driver license was suspended before incarceration.
• It is unclear how much it will cost to update the Department of Safety’s A-List software system.
• If other legislation requires additional updates, the Department of Safety could incur extra costs.

Official Summary Text

Present law requires the department of correction to provide an inmate who is discharged from imprisonment for a felony offense, and who intends to reside in this state, with relevant documentation to assist the inmate in obtaining post-release employmen
t and to coordinate with the department of safety to provide a photo identification license, which is for identification purposes only and not valid for vehicular use, if the inmate does not have a current photo identification license or driver license.
Th
is bill requires the department of correction to also coordinate with the department of safety to provide a driver license to released inmates in certain circumstances as outlined below.

ASSISTANCE WITH OBTAINING LICENSES

If a person discharged from incarceration possesses, or previously possessed prior to incarceration, a driver license that was valid and in good standing (i.e, not suspended, revoked, or canceled) at the time of incarceration, then this bill requires the
department of correction to coordinate with the department of safety to provide such person with a driver license. A driver license that expired solely due to the period of incarceration is considered in good standing.

If a person in the custody of the department of correction had a valid Tennessee driver license that expired during the inmate's imprisonment or within six months of being discharged from incarceration, then this bill requires the expiration date of that
driver license to be extended for a period of six months after the person is released from the custody of the department of correction. The department of safety must notify the license holder within three days of the extension that the license holder mu
st
apply to renew their driver license according to present law.

If a discharged inmate does not possess a valid driver license in good standing, then the department of correction must, instead, coordinate with the department of safety to provide the inmate a photo identification license, which, as stated above, is fo
r identification purposes only and not valid for vehicular use.

DATA-SHARING AGREEMENT

This bill requires the departments of safety and correction to enter into a data-sharing agreement to facilitate the exchange of necessary data to carry out this bill.

RULEMAKING

This bill authorizes the departments of correction and safety to promulgate policies and rules to implement this bill.

ON MARCH 2, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 1479, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #1 eliminates the requirement that the driver license of a person who held an unexpired Tennessee driver license upon imprisonment that expired during the person's term of imprisonment, or within six months after the person is discharged from i
ncarceration, have its expiration date extended for six months after the person is released from custody. Instead, this amendment requires the department of safety to work with the department of correction on the renewal of a driver license upon the rele
as
e of a person from incarceration, if the person is otherwise eligible for a driver license and meets documentation requirements.

Current Bill Text

HOUSE BILL 1551
By Davis

SENATE BILL 1479
By Gardenhire
SB1479
010218
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Section
41-51-301 and Title 55, Chapter 50, Part 3,
relative to licenses.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 41-51-301(a), is amended by
deleting the language "to provide a photo identification license" and substituting instead the
language "to provide a driver license, pursuant to title 55, chapter 50, part 3, or a photo
identification license", and adding the following language at the end of the subsection:
The department of correction shall coordinate with the department of safety to provide a
driver license only for those inmates who possess, or previously possessed prior to
incarceration, a driver license that was valid and in good standing at the time of
incarceration. An inmate whose driver license expired solely due to the period of
incarceration is deemed to possess a driver license in good standing for purposes of this
section. If an inmate does not possess a valid driver license in good standing, then the
department of correction shall instead coordinate with the department of safety to
provide the inmate a photo identification license pursuant to § 55-50-336.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 41-51-301(b)(1), is amended by
inserting the language "driver license, pursuant to title 55, chapter 50, part 3, or a" immediately
preceding the language "photo identification license".
SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 41-51-301(b)(2), is amended by
inserting the language "driver license or" immediately preceding the language "photo
identification license to all eligible inmates".

- 2 - 010218

SECTION 4. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 41-51-301(b)(3), is amended by
inserting the language "or driver license" immediately after the language "photo identification
license".
SECTION 5. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 55, Chapter 50, Part 3, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
55-50-356. Extension of driver license for inmates leaving incarceration.
(a) A person who held an unexpired Tennessee driver license upon
imprisonment in the custody of the department of correction that expired during the
person's term of imprisonment or within six (6) months after the person is discharged
from incarceration, must have the expiration date of the person's driver license extended
for a period of six (6) months after the person is released from the custody of the
department of correction.
(b) The departments of safety and correction shall enter into a data-sharing
agreement to facilitate the exchange of necessary data to carry out this section.
(c) The department of safety shall notify the license holder within three (3) days
of extension that the license holder must apply to renew the holder's driver license
pursuant to § 55-50-338.
(d) The departments of correction and safety are each authorized to promulgate
policies and rules in accordance with the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act,
compiled in title 4, chapter 5, to implement this section.
(e) For purposes of this section, "driver license in good standing" means a driver
license that is valid and not suspended, revoked, or canceled at the time of the inmate's
incarceration. A driver license that expired solely due to the period of incarceration is
considered in good standing for purposes of this section.

- 3 - 010218

SECTION 6. The heading in this act is for reference purposes only and does not
constitute a part of the law enacted by this act. However, the Tennessee Code Commission is
requested to include the heading in any compilation or publication containing this act.
SECTION 7. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.