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~tate of \!Cennessee
PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 954
HOUSE BILL NO. 1708
By Representatives Capley, Mr. Speaker Sexton, Faison, Zachary, Lamberth, Marsh,
Garrett, Cochran, Bulso, Lafferty, White, Howell, Gary Hicks, Todd, Vaughan, Moody,
Powers, Kumar, Grills, Rudd, Scarbrough, Davis, Russell, Littleton, Hawk, Cepicky, Hale,
Carringer, Reeves, Doggett, Leatherwood, Darby, McCalmon, Moon, Alexander, Boyd,
Sherrell, Maberry, Renea Jones, Slater, Tim Hicks, Crawford, Wright, Hill, Lankford,
Eldridge, Gant, Bricken, Brock Martin, Helton-Haynes, Butler, Rudder, Warner, Atchley,
Stinnett, Keisling, Raper, Stevens, Vital, Reneau, Haston, Terry, Fritts
Substituted for: Senate Bill No. 1889
By Senators Taylor, Haile, Seal, Stevens, White
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 55, Chapter 4; Title 55, Chapter 50
and Title 65, Chapter 15, relative to motor vehicles.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-50-322, is amended by adding the
following as a new subsection (k) and redesignating the existing subsection (k) as subsection
(I):
(k)
(1)
(A) If an applicant for a driver license or intermediate driver license is
unable to speak and read the English language, then the applicant may be
administered the written examination in a language other than English that is
offered by the department.
(8) If the department issues a driver license or intermediate driver license
pursuant to subdivision (k)(1 )(A), then the license must be non-renewable and
valid for only thirty-six (36) months.
(C) Upon expiration of the license issued pursuant to this subdivision
(k)(1 ), to obtain a driver license or intermediate driver license, the applicant shall
retake only the written examination and it must be administered to the applicant
in English only. The applicant shall not use a translation dictionary, an electronic
device, or an interpreter to assist with the administration of the re-examination.
(2) Subdivision (k)( 1) does not apply to an applicant:
(A) For a commercial driver license under part 4 of this chapter; or
(8) Who is unable to speak the English language sufficiently, is capable
of reading and writing in the English language, and presents a written statement
from a physician that the applicant has a hearing impairment that impacts the
applicant's ability to speak the English language sufficiently.
(3) A person under eighteen (18) years of age who is issued an intermediate
license under this subsection (k) is also subject to the requirements and restrictions in §
55-50-311, except for those under§ 55-50-311 (c)(2). A duplicate license issued under§
55-50-311 (c)(3) remains subject to the requirements of this subsection (k) with regard to
the expiration date and the requirements in subdivision (k)(1 )(C) for the issuance of an
unrestricted license.
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(4) This subsection (k) does not require the department to administer a driver
license written examination in a language other than a language that was offered by the
department on January 1, 2026.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 55, Chapter 4, Part 1, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
55-4-144.
(a) The commIssIoner of revenue or a county clerk shall not process an
application for initial issuance of registration of a motor vehicle in which a license plate is
issued until the applicant provides documentation, whether in paper or electronic format,
that the applicant is:
(1) A citizen of the United States;
(2) A lawful permanent resident of the United States; or
(3) A person whose presence in the United States has been authorized
by the federal government for a specific purpose and for a specified period of
authorized stay.
(b)
(1) A REAL ID-compliant license, Tennessee driver license, Tennessee
photo identification license, Tennessee temporary driver license, or Tennessee
temporary photo identification license is deemed satisfactory proof under
subsection (a).
(2) The department shall publish on its website a list of acceptable forms
of documentation and identification that may be provided or submitted with a
registration application in accordance with this section.
(c) For purposes of this section, acceptable electronic formats include display of
electronic images on a cell phone or any other type of portable electronic device.
(d) An applicant applying for initial issuance of registration of a motor vehicle in
which a license plate is issued and for whom the department or county clerk has
recorded the required documentation pursuant to this section is deemed in compliance
with this section unless otherwise required by law.
(e) Every registration and renewal of registration must be accompanied by the
following notice:
THE OWNER AND/OR OPERATOR OF THIS VEHICLE IS REQUIRED TO BE A
UNITED STATES CITIZEN, LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENT, OR
TEMPORARY LAWFUL RESIDENT PURSUANT TO TENNESSEE CODE
ANNOTATED, § 55-4-144.
(f) If a dealer is appointed by a person to manage a registration transaction on
the person's behalf pursuant to§ 55-3-103 or another law, then the dealer must submit a
copy of the person's documentation required pursuant to subsection (a) as part of the
application in order for the application to be processed.
SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-50-321(c)(1), is amended by
deleting subdivisions (C)-(E) and substituting instead:
(C) Any applicant applying for an initial issuance, renewal, duplicate, or
reinstatement of a driver license, instruction permitl intermediate driver license, or photo
identification license shall provide either an original or certified copy of documentation
that the applicant is a citizen of the United States.
(D) Any applicant applying for a renewal, duplicate, or reinstatement of a license
for which the department has the documents required in subdivision (c)(1)(C) on file,
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shall be deemed in compliance with subdivision (c)(1)(C) unless otherwise required by
law.
SECTION 4. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance
is held invalid, then the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of the act that
can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to that end, the provisions of
this act are severable.
SECTION 5. For purposes of establishing or coordinating data sharing between a
department and county clerks and promulgating forms and rules, this act takes effect upon
becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it. For all other purposes, this act takes effect
January 1, 2027, the public welfare requiring it.
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HOUSE BILL NO. 1708
PASSED: April 23, 2026
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CAMERON SEXTON, SPEAKER
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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RANDY MCNALLJ
SPEAKER OF THE SENA
APPROVED this ~ iL. day of ~ 2026
BILL LEE, GOVERNOR IA..1 -Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.