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SB1635 • 2026

Motor Vehicles, Titling and Registration

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 55, Chapter 21, Part 3, relative to the 2021 Precious Cargo Act.

Healthcare
Active

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

Sponsor
Akbari, Love
Last action
2026-04-06
Official status
Effective date(s) 07/01/2026
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not specify the exact process for requesting a designation in Tennessee's vehicle registration system, nor does it explicitly mention requiring documentation from medical providers. These details were removed as unsupported by the provided sources.

Clarifying Communication Disorders in Precious Cargo Act

This bill updates Tennessee's law to clarify that communication disorders are medical conditions under the Precious Cargo Act.

What This Bill Does

  • Clarifies that 'medical condition' includes communication disorders, such as speech and language issues, for purposes of the Precious Cargo Act.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Drivers who have communication disorders and may need extra help talking to police officers during traffic stops.

Terms To Know

Precious Cargo Act
A Tennessee law that helps drivers with certain medical conditions get special assistance from first responders during traffic stops.
Communication Disorders
Problems with speaking, understanding language, or fluency (like stuttering) that can make it hard to communicate effectively.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill only affects drivers who have a medical condition listed in the law and need help communicating during traffic stops.
  • It does not change how police officers interact with other drivers or people without these conditions.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Effective date(s) 07/01/2026

  2. 2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Pub. Ch. 648

  3. 2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. became Pub. Ch. 648

  4. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Governor.

  5. 2026-03-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Transmitted to Governor for action.

  6. 2026-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by H. Speaker

  7. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Senate Speaker

  8. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Enrolled and ready for signatures

  9. 2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed H., Ayes 93, Nays 0, PNV 0

  10. 2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Subst. for comp. HB.

  11. 2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  12. 2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. SB subst.

  13. 2026-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 3/16/2026

  14. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 3/12/2026

  15. 2026-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee

  16. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Transportation Committee for 3/10/2026

  17. 2026-03-03 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  18. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Transportation Subcommittee for 3/3/2026

  19. 2026-02-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.

  20. 2026-02-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

  21. 2026-02-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  22. 2026-02-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate, Ayes 31, Nays 0

  23. 2026-02-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Consent Calendar 2 for 2/19/2026

  24. 2026-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee

  25. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Transportation and Safety Committee calendar for 2/11/2026

  26. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Transportation Subcommittee

  27. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Transportation Committee

  28. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  29. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  30. 2026-01-15 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  31. 2026-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  32. 2026-01-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

The 2021 Precious Cargo Act allows drivers who need assistance communicating with first responders to request a designation in the Tennessee Vehicle Title and Registration System database detailing the need for such assistance. When requesting such a de
signation, the driver must provide a written statement from an appropriate medical provider stating that the driver has an intellectual disability, a developmental disability, or a medical condition that may impede their communications and interactions wi
th
a first responder.

This bill clarifies that a "medical condition," as used above, includes communication disorders, including speech, language, and fluency disorders, such as stuttering.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 1942
By Love

SENATE BILL 1635
By Akbari
SB1635
010915
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 55,
Chapter 21, Part 3, relative to the 2021 Precious
Cargo Act.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-21-303(a)(2), is amended by
inserting the following sentence immediately after the first sentence:
For purposes of this subdivision (a)(2), "medical condition" includes communication
disorders, including, but not limited to, speech, language, and fluency disorders, such as
stuttering.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.