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SB1834 • 2026

Traffic Safety

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 55, Chapter 9, Part 4, relative to towing.

Active

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

Sponsor
Akbari, Shaw
Last action
2026-02-02
Official status
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Transportation and Safety Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Towing Vehicle Lights

This bill allows tow trucks in Tennessee to use a single blue light on their rear when they are stopped and helping another vehicle.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the law about towing vehicles so that they can now have a single, steady or flashing blue light at the back of the truck.
  • The blue light is only allowed when the tow truck is not moving and it's helping another car or providing assistance.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Tow truck drivers in Tennessee
  • People who see tow trucks with a single blue light on the rear

Terms To Know

Recovery vehicle
A tow truck that is helping another car or providing assistance.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what will happen if someone breaks this new rule.
  • It's unclear how other drivers should react to seeing a blue light on the back of a stopped tow truck.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Taken off notice for cal in s/c Transportation Subcommittee of Transportation Committee

  2. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Transportation Subcommittee for 3/17/2026

  3. 2026-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Transportation Subcommittee to 3/17/2026

  4. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Transportation Subcommittee for 3/10/2026

  5. 2026-03-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Transportation Subcommittee to 3/10/2026

  6. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  7. 2026-02-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Transportation Subcommittee to Next Available Calendar

  8. 2026-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Transportation Subcommittee for 2/17/2026

  9. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  10. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  11. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  12. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Transportation Subcommittee

  13. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Transportation Committee

  14. 2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  15. 2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  16. 2026-01-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 1713
By Shaw

SENATE BILL 1834
By Akbari
SB1834
011110
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 55,
Chapter 9, Part 4, relative to towing.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-9-414, is amended by adding the
following as a new subsection:
(h) Notwithstanding subsection (a), a recovery vehicle, as defined in § 55-8-132,
may display a single, steady-burning or flashing blue light to the rear, but not the front, of
the vehicle when stationary and engaged in the recovery of, or otherwise providing
assistance to, another vehicle.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.