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SB2443 • 2026

Traffic Safety

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-8-198, relative to unmanned traffic enforcement cameras.

Children Education
Active

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

Sponsor
Powers, Lankford
Last action
2026-04-14
Official status
H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/21/2026
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on the number of affected cameras or locations, nor does it specify if this change will lead to more or fewer violations being caught by unmanned cameras near schools.

Unmanned Traffic Enforcement Cameras in School Zones

This bill changes when unmanned traffic enforcement cameras can be used near marked school zones.

What This Bill Does

  • Adds rules about when unmanned traffic cameras can operate near marked school zones.
  • Requires that the cameras only work during times a warning flasher is on or when children are present in areas without warning flashers.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who drive near marked school zones with unmanned traffic enforcement cameras
  • Schools and local governments that manage school zone safety

Terms To Know

unmanned traffic enforcement camera
A camera used to catch drivers breaking traffic laws without a person operating it.
marked school zone
An area near a school that is clearly marked as needing extra safety measures for children and pedestrians.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how many cameras will be affected or the exact locations of these changes.
  • It's unclear if this change will lead to more or fewer traffic violations being caught by unmanned cameras near schools.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

Amendment 1-0 to HB2474

Plain English: The amendment changes Tennessee law to allow unmanned traffic enforcement cameras to operate when warning lights are flashing or when children are present in addition to school zones.

  • Adds conditions under which unmanned traffic enforcement cameras can be used: when warning flashers are on and during times when children are present.
  • The amendment text does not specify the exact circumstances or locations where these additional conditions apply, beyond school zones.
Amendment 1-0 to SB2443

Plain English: The amendment changes Tennessee law to allow unmanned traffic enforcement cameras to operate when warning flashers are on or during times when children are present in addition to within designated school zones.

  • Adds conditions under which unmanned traffic enforcement cameras can be used: when warning flashers are operating and during times when children are present.
  • The amendment text does not specify the exact circumstances or timing for 'when children are present,' leaving some ambiguity about how this condition will be implemented.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  2. 2026-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/21/2026

  3. 2026-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Reset on cal. for 4/21/2026

  4. 2026-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA0837)

  5. 2026-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Subst. for comp. HB.

  6. 2026-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. SB subst.

  7. 2026-04-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  8. 2026-04-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

  9. 2026-04-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 33, Nays 0

  10. 2026-04-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0851)

  11. 2026-04-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/13/2026

  12. 2026-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/13/2026

  13. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/9/2026

  14. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 9, Nays 0 PNV 0

  15. 2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee

  16. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Transportation and Safety Committee calendar for 3/25/2026

  17. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Transportation Committee for 3/24/2026

  18. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  19. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Reset on Final calendar of Senate Transportation and Safety Committee

  20. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  21. 2026-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  22. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Transportation and Safety Committee calendar for 3/11/2026

  23. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Transportation and Safety Committee to 3/11/2026

  24. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  25. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Transportation and Safety Committee calendar for 3/4/2026

  26. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  27. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Transportation Subcommittee

  28. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Transportation Committee

  29. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  30. 2026-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  31. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  32. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

ON APRIL 13, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 2443, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #1 revises when an unmanned traffic enforcement camera cannot be enforced to, in addition to present law, when a warning flasher or flashers are in operation or during times when children are present.

ON APRIL 14, 2026, THE HOUSE SUBSTITUTED SENATE BILL 2443 FOR HOUSE BILL 2474 AND RESET SENATE BILL 2443.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 2474
By Lankford

SENATE BILL 2443
By Powers
SB2443
010668
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Section
55-8-198, relative to unmanned traffic enforcement
cameras.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-8-198(l)(1)(A), is amended by
adding the language "when a warning flasher or flashers are in operation or during times when
children are present if the school zone does not have a warning flasher or flashers" immediately
following the language "Within the designated distance of a marked school zone".
SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.