Driver Licenses - As enacted, creates the Class B misdemeanor offense of operating a motor vehicle in this state with an invalid driver license; designates out-of-state driver licenses issued exclusively to illegal aliens as invalid driver licenses in this state. - Amends TCA Title 55, Chapter 50.
HB 749 creates a Class B misdemeanor offense for operating a vehicle in Tennessee with an out-of-state driver license issued exclusively to individuals without lawful immigration status. The bill specifically targets licenses marked or designed to distinguish undocumented immigrants from other license holders, defining them as "invalid" in Tennessee. It requires the state to publish and maintain a list of such invalid license types by December 2025. This law directly affects non-residents holding these specific out-of-state licenses, making their use a punishable offense. The policy change takes effect January 1, 2026, with related administrative provisions effective immediately upon enactment.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
Apr 2025
Introduced Feb 5, 2025
Signed Apr 24, 2025
Floor votes · Senate Apr 7, 2025 · House Apr 3, 2025
How they voted
31–6
Passed
Total votes 37
Apr 7, 2025
D
Democratic7
85% Nay
R
Republican30
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
30
Key actions
10
Committee
7
Apr 24, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by Governor.
lower
Apr 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
Signed by Senate Speaker
upper
Apr 10, 2025
Lower · Passed
Signed by H. Speaker
lower
Apr 7, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate, Ayes 26, Nays 6
upper
Apr 3, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed H., Ayes 68, Nays 21, PNV 0
lower
Apr 3, 2025
Introduced
Received from House, Passed on First Consideration
lower
Mar 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 3/27/2025
lower
Mar 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee
lower
Mar 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Transportation Committee for 3/25/2025
lower
Mar 18, 2025
Lower · Passed
Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Transportation Committee
lower
Mar 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Transportation Subcommittee for 3/18/2025
lower
Feb 10, 2025
Committee
Assigned to s/c Transportation Subcommittee
lower
Feb 6, 2025
Committee
P2C, ref. to Transportation Committee
lower
Feb 5, 2025
Introduced
Intro., P1C.
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Lee Reeves
RRepublican
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