Motor Vehicles - As enacted, authorizes enforcement of a garagekeeper's lien on a motor vehicle that was stored for the purpose of repairs without express written authorization from the owner for such storage if the gara, the official text

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                              PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 661

                                                    SENATE BILL NO. 2360

                                                              By Massey

                                           Substituted for: House Bill No. 2159

                                                            By Wright

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 47; Title 55, Chapter 31 and Title 66, Chapter
          19, relative to motor vehicles.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:

          SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-31-205, is amended by adding the
following as a new subsection:

                    (c) A garagekeeper may store a motor vehicle without express written authorization
          for storage pursuant to subsection (a) if the garagekeeper makes a good faith attempt to
          acquire consent to repair in the manner provided in§ 66-19-104(a)(2), and the garagekeeper
          sends notice of the intent to store by using three-day delivery to the last known registered
          owner of the motor vehicle.

          SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 66-19-103, is amended by adding the
following as a new subsection:

                    (f)(1) A garagekeeper's failure to obtain express written authorization to store a motor
                    vehicle under § 55-31-205(a) does not abrogate the garagekeeper's right to a lien
                    under this section if the garagekeeper makes the good faith attempt to acquire
                    consent and provides notice to the owner under§ 55-31-205(c).

                              (2) A garagekeeper may enforce a lien under this section after the expiration
                    of thirty (30) days from the date of receipt of the notice provided under § 55-31-
                    205(c).

                              (3) To establish compliance with § 55-31-205(c), the garagekeeper shall
                    submit to the department of revenue:

                                        (A) A written record of the name of the person whom the garagekeeper
                              attempted to notify, the date and time of the attempt, and the signature of the
                              person who made the attempted notification; and

                                        (B) A copy of the confirmation of receipt, which may include an
                              electronic signature, photograph of delivery, or other verifiable proof that the
                              notice was delivered to the address of the last known registered owner of the
                              motor vehicle.

          SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-31-207, is amended by deleting
subsection (f) and substituting:

                    (f)(1) Except as provided in subdivision (f)(2), subsections (a) and (d) do not apply to
                    a motor vehicle that was towed or stored by a garagekeeper for the purpose of
                    repairing the motor vehicle if the garagekeeper first obtained the authorization of the
                    owner for the repairs and the owner of the motor vehicle has been notified that the
                    repairs have been completed.
SB 2360
                              (2) Subsections (a), (d}, and (e) do not apply to a motor vehicle that was

                    stored by a garagekeeper for the purpose of repairing the motor vehicle if, in the case
                    of a garagekeeper who cannot obtain the authorization of the owner for the repairs,
                   the garagekeeper complies with the good faith attempt to acquire consent and notice
                    requirements of§ 55-31-205(c).
          SECTION 4. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.

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         SENATE BILL NO. 2360

PASSED:  March 19, 2026

                                              RANDY McNN-LY
                                  PEAKER OF THE SENATE

                         L ~- ~.
                           CAMERON SEXTON, SPEAKER
                          HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

APPROVED this j'SI- day of April  2026

            W---

         BILL LEE, GOVERNOR