Driver Licenses - As enacted, requires the department of correction to coordinate with the department of safety to provide a driver license to certain inmates who are discharged from imprisonment and who intend to reside in this state; makes other related changes. - Amends TCA Section 41-51-301 and Title 55, Chapter 50, Part 3.
SB 1479 requires Tennessee's Department of Correction to coordinate with the Department of Safety to help inmates released after serving a felony sentence obtain driver licenses or photo ID licenses if they had a valid license before incarceration. It automatically extends the expiration date of a driver license that expired during incarceration or within six months after release by six additional months. The bill also mandates a data-sharing agreement between the two departments to streamline this process and ensures licenses expired solely due to incarceration are treated as valid for reentry. This applies specifically to inmates discharged from prison who plan to live in Tennessee and had a driver license in good standing prior to incarceration.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Apr 2026
House Passage
Apr 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Jan 13, 2026
Signed Apr 14, 2026
Floor votes
How they voted
This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
30
Key actions
14
Committee
9
Amendments
1
Apr 14, 2026
Signed into law
Signed by Governor.
lower
Apr 2, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by H. Speaker
lower
Apr 1, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by Senate Speaker
upper
Mar 30, 2026
Amended
Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA0702)
lower
Mar 30, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed H., Ayes 91, Nays 0, PNV 0
lower
Mar 2, 2026
Lower · Passed
Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0524)
lower
Mar 2, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 32, Nays 0
upper
Feb 25, 2026
Upper · Passed
Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 7, Nays 0 PNV 0
upper
Feb 18, 2026
Lower · Passed
Action deferred in Senate Transportation and Safety Committee to 2/25/2026
lower
Feb 18, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on Senate Transportation and Safety Committee calendar for 2/25/2026
lower
Feb 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
Action deferred in Senate Transportation and Safety Committee to 2/18/2026
lower
Feb 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on Senate Transportation and Safety Committee calendar for 2/18/2026
lower
Feb 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Action deferred in Senate Transportation and Safety Committee to 2/11/2026
lower
Feb 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on Senate Transportation and Safety Committee calendar for 2/11/2026
lower
Jan 28, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on Senate Transportation and Safety Committee calendar for 2/4/2026
lower
Jan 14, 2026
Committee
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Transportation and Safety Committee
upper
Jan 13, 2026
Introduced
Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Todd Gardenhire
RRepublican
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