Tennessee legislation · 114th General Assembly
Tennessee HB1551: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 41-51-301 and Title 55, Chapter 50, Part 3, relative to licenses.
Status: Chaptered, April 27, 2026
Fiscal Summary OTHER FISCAL IMPACT The legislation will require updates to the Department of Safety’s A-List software system. The updates are assumed to be accomplished by the relevant vendor under the current contractual agreement at no additional cost to the department. However, if the relevant contract provision is exhausted by this and other legislation subsequently enacted, the DOS could incur an additional increase in expenditures estimated to be $75,000, as provided by the vendor, in FY26-27. Bill Summary Present law requires the department of correction to provide an inmate who is discharged from imprisonment for a felony offense, and who intends to reside in this state, with relevant documentation to assist the inmate in obtaining post-release employment and to coordinate with the department of safety to provide a photo identification license, which is for identification purposes only and not valid for vehicular use, if the inmate does not have a current photo identification license or driver license. This bill requires the department of correction to also coordinate with the department of safety to provide a driver license to released inmates in certain circumstances as outlined below. ASSISTANCE WITH OBTAINING LICENSES If a person discharged from incarceration possesses, or previously possessed prior to incarceration, a driver license that was valid and in good standing (i.e, not suspended, revoked, or canceled) at the time of incarceration, then this bill requires the department of correction to coordinate with the department of safety to provide such person with a driver license. A driver license that expired solely due to the period of incarceration is considered in good standing. If a person in the custody of the department of correction had a valid Tennessee driver license that expired during the inmate's
What the bill says
From the amended text:
House Transportation 1 Amendment No. 1 to HB1551 Howell Signature of Sponsor AMEND S e n ate Bill No. 1479* House Bill No. 1551 by deleting all language after the enacting clause and substituting: SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 41-51-301(a), is amended by deleting the language "to provide a photo identification license" and substituting instead the language "to provide a driver license, pursuant to title 55, chapter 50, part 3, or a photo identification license". SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 41-51-301(b)(1), is amended by inserting the language "driver license, pursuant to title 55, chapter 50, part 3, or a" immediately preceding the language "photo identification license". SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 41-51-301(b)(2), is amended by inserting the language "driver license or" immediately preceding the language "photo identification license to all eligible inmates". SECTION 4. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 41-51-301(b)(3), is amended by inserting the language "or driver license" immediately after the language "photo identification license". SECTION 5. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 41-51-301(b)(4), is amended by inserting the language "or driver license" immediately after the language "photo identification license" wherever it appears and by inserting the language "or driver licenses issued pursuant to title 55, chapter 50, part 3" after the language "photo identification licenses issued pursuant to § 55-50-336". HA0702 SECTION 6. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 41-51-301(b)(5), …