SB1658 • 2026

DUI Offenses

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39; Title 40 and Title 55, Chapter 10, relative to driving under the influence.

Crime Education

Active

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

Sponsor: Gardenhire, Rudder
Last action: 2026-04-13
Official status: Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide information on the cost implications or effectiveness of the bill.

Driving Under Influence (DUI) Penalties

This bill changes Tennessee's DUI laws by adding a mandatory minimum jail time of 30 days for people convicted of DUI if they were in a marked school zone with flashing warning lights at the time of the offense.

What This Bill Does

Adds a new rule that says anyone caught driving under the influence (DUI) while inside a marked school zone and when warning flashers are on must spend at least 30 days in jail.
Requires courts to add this extra jail time to any other punishment given for DUI.

Who It Names or Affects

People who drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs and are caught in a marked school zone with flashing warning lights.
Courts that will have to give out this new punishment.

Terms To Know

marked school zone: An area around a school where special traffic rules apply, often shown by signs and markings on the road.
flasher or flashers: Warning lights that are used to alert drivers of danger or special conditions.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how much it will cost local governments.
It is unclear if this law will make driving safer near schools.

Bill History

2026-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed behind the budget
2026-04-13 Tennessee General Assembly
Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.
2026-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly
Engrossed; ready for transmission to House
2026-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly
Sponsor(s) Added.
2026-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly
Passed Senate, Ayes 28, Nays 4
2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2026
2026-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/9/2026
2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly
Assigned to s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee
2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly
Rec. for pass; ref to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly
Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee
2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 4/1/2026
2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly
Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Judiciary Committee
2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/25/2026
2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly
Action deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 3/25/2026
2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/24/2026
2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly
Action deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 3/24/2026
2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/23/2026
2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/25/2026
2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly
Action Def. in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee to 3/25/2026
2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/18/2026
2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly
Action Def. in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee to 3/18/2026
2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/11/2026
2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly
Action Def. in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee to 3/11/2026
2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/4/2026
2026-02-17 Tennessee General Assembly
Sponsor(s) Added.
2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly
Assigned to s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee
2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly
P2C, ref. to Judiciary Committee
2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee
2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly
Intro., P1C.
2026-01-20 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction
2026-01-15 Tennessee General Assembly
Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
2026-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Present law provides that i
t is unlawful for any person to drive or to be in physical control of any automobile or other motor driven vehicle on any of the public roads and highways of the state, or on any streets or alleys, or while on the premises of any shopping center, trailer
park, or apartment house complex, or any other premises that is generally frequented by the public at large, while
any of the following conditions exist:



Under the influence of any intoxicant, marijuana, controlled substance, controlled substance analogue, drug, substance affecting the central nervous system, or combination thereof that impairs the driver's ability to safely operate a motor vehicle by depriving the driver of the clearness of mind and control of oneself that the driver would otherwise possess
.


The alcohol concentration in the person's blood or breath is 0.08% or more
.


With a blood alcohol concentration of 0.04% or more and the vehicle is a commercial motor vehicle.

Present law provides that

i
f a person is
so
convicted, and at the time of the offense, the person was accompanied by a child under 18,
then
the person's sentence
is
enhanced by a mandatory minimum period of incarceration of 30 days.
For acts committed on or after the effective date of this bill, this bill also requires t
he court
to
enhance a person's sentence by a mandatory minimum period of incarceration of 30 days if a person is
so
convicted, and at the time of the offense the person was
w
ithin a marked
school zone and a warning flasher or flashers were in operation.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HOUSE BILL 1755
By Rudder

SENATE BILL 1658
By Gardenhire
SB1658
009344
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39;
Title 40 and Title 55, Chapter 10, relative to driving
under the influence.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-10-402, is amended by deleting
subdivision (b)(1) and substituting:
(1)
(A) The court shall enhance a person's sentence by a mandatory
minimum period of incarceration of thirty (30) days if a person is convicted of a
violation of § 55-10-401, and at the time of the offense the person was:
(i) Accompanied by a child under eighteen (18) years of age; or
(ii) Within a marked school zone and a warning flasher or flashers
were in operation.
(B) The incarceration enhancement in this subdivision (b)(1) must be
served in addition to any period of incarceration received for the violation of § 55-
10-401.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it, and
applies to acts committed on or after that date.