Tennessee legislation · 114th General Assembly
Tennessee HB1708: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 55, Chapter 4; Title 55, Chapter 50 and Title 65, Chapter 15, relative to motor vehicles.
Status: Chaptered, May 18, 2026
Fiscal Summary STATE GOVERNMENTREVENUEHighway FundGeneral FundDepartment of RevenueDriver ServicesFY26-27 ($1,633,900)($33,300)($193,100)-FY27-28 & Subsequent Years($1,633,900)($33,300)($193,100)$46,300 EXPENDITURESDriver ServicesFY26-27 -FY27-28 & Subsequent Years$1,400 LOCAL GOVERNMENTREVENUEMandatoryFY26-27 ($2,194,900)FY27-28 & Subsequent YearsNET ($2,190,900) OTHER FISCAL IMPACT The legislation will require updates to the Department of Safety’s A-List software system and the creation of a new restricted driver license. These updates are assumed to be accomplished by the relevant vendors under the current contractual agreement at no additional cost to the Department. However, if the relevant contract provisions are exhausted by this and other legislation subsequently enacted, the Department of Safety could incur an additional increase in expenditures estimated to be $57,800, as provided by the vendors, in FY26-27. The extent and timing of additional impacts to state and local revenue and expenditures beginning in FY34-35 relative to the number of both restricted and unrestricted licenses obtained, and the renewal and expiration thereof, is unknown and cannot be quantified with reasonable certainty. Bill Summary The Uniform Classified and Commercial Driver License Act of 1988 requires the department of safety to examine every applicant for a driver license, intermediate driver license, learner permit, temporary driver license, temporary learner permit, and temporary intermediate driver license. Such examination may include a written examination. WRITTEN EXAMINATIONS If an applicant for a driver license or intermediate driver license is unable to speak and read in English, then this bill authorizes the written examination required for licensure to be administered in a language other than English. However, if the examination
What the bill says
From the introduced text:
Conference Committee Report on House Bill No. 1708 / Senate Bill No. 1889 The House and Senate Conference Committee appointed pursuant to motions to resolve the differences between the two houses on House Bill No. 1708 (Senate Bill No. 1889) has met and recommends that all amendments be deleted. The Committee further recommends that the following amendment be adopted: by deleting all language after the enacting clause and substituting: 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 (l): (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. (B) 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, …