Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

Tennessee Senate Bill SB1297 Latest Draft

Bill / Draft Version Filed 02/06/2025

                             
HOUSE BILL 1316 
 By Lamberth 
 
SENATE BILL 1297 
By Johnson 
 
 
SB1297 
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AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 2-
7-112 and Title 55, Chapter 50, relative to 
licenses. 
 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE: 
 SECTION 1.  Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 2-7-112(c)(1), is amended by 
inserting the language "physical" immediately preceding the language "Tennessee driver 
license". 
 SECTION 2.  Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 2-7-112(c)(3), is amended by 
inserting the language "physical," immediately after the language "A". 
 SECTION 3.  Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-50-306, is amended by deleting 
"electronic driver license system" wherever it appears in subsections (a), (b), (c), and (e) and 
substituting instead "digital driver license system"; by deleting "electronic format" wherever it 
appears in subsection (a) and substituting instead "digital format"; by deleting "an electronic 
format" wherever it appears in subsection (e) and substituting instead "a digital format"; and by 
deleting "an electronic image" and "electronic images" wherever they appear in subsection (a) 
and substituting instead "a digital image" and "digital images". 
 SECTION 4.  Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-50-304, is amended by adding 
the following subdivision: 
 (  )  Any person eighteen (18) years of age or older who is operating a non-
commercial vehicle and who is accompanied by a department of safety employee while 
engaged in an actual demonstration of their ability to exercise ordinary and reasonable 
control in the operation of a motor vehicle pursuant to § 55-50-322(a)(1)(A).   
 
 
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SECTION 5.  Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-50-306(d), is amended by 
deleting the subsection and substituting instead: 
 (d)  Neither the department nor any entity contracting with the department shall 
charge a fee to participate in the digital driver license system. 
SECTION 6.  Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-50-306(e), is amended by 
deleting the first sentence and substituting instead: 
In lieu of a physical driver license, a person who participates in the system may 
present or submit evidence of possession of a valid driver license in a digital format, 
which must be accepted as such evidence for identification and other purposes, 
including upon the request of a law enforcement officer, a seller of alcoholic beverages, 
or any other person; except, that to verify the person's identification for the purpose of 
voting, the person shall not present or submit evidence of possession of a valid driver 
license in a digital format and a digital driver license must not be accepted as such 
evidence. 
 SECTION 7.  Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-50-306, is amended by deleting 
subsection (f) and substituting instead: 
 (f) 
(1)  Data obtained from the use of a digital driver license must not be 
retained for longer than necessary to confirm the information provided is 
accurate; provided, however, that data must not be retained for longer than three 
(3) calendar days. 
 (2)  Data obtained from the use of a digital driver license must not be sold 
or otherwise provided to any entity other than a law enforcement agency through 
the course of the agency's duties, a governmental entity that is entitled to the 
information under state law, or pursuant to a subpoena issued by a court.   
 
 
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SECTION 8.  Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-50-306, is amended by adding 
the following new subsections: 
(g)   
(1)  As used in this subsection (g): 
(A)  "Biometric identifier" means a retina or iris scan, fingerprint, 
voiceprint, or record of hand or face geometry; and 
(B) "Geolocation data" means internet protocol addresses or 
other information that describes the location of a cellular telephone or 
other type of portable electronic device, computer, computer system, or 
computer network from which a person accesses the digital driver license 
system. 
(2)  The department may only collect a biometric identifier in the form of 
face geometry for the exclusive purpose of comparing face geometry to a driver 
license photo already on file to confirm the person seeking a digital driver license 
is the same person who holds the physical driver license.  The department must 
not collect any other biometric identifier. 
(3)  An entity contracting with the department to provide a mobile software 
application or other method for utilizing a digital driver license system shall not 
capture a biometric identifier of a person for purposes of the digital driver license 
system unless the entity: 
(A)  Informs the person each time before capturing the biometric 
identifier in a separate and distinct manner from any terms and conditions 
or other requests for consent; and 
(B)  Receives the person's clear and specific consent to capture 
the biometric identifier each time.   
 
 
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(4)  If the department or entity described in this subsection (g) possesses 
a biometric identifier of a person that is captured pursuant to subdivisions (g)(2) 
or (g)(3), then the department or entity: 
(A)  Shall not sell or otherwise provide the biometric identifier to 
any entity other than a law enforcement agency through the course of the 
agency's duties, a governmental entity that is entitled to the biometric 
identifier under state law, or pursuant to a subpoena issued by a court; 
(B)  Shall store, transmit, and protect from disclosure the biometric 
identifier using reasonable care and in a manner that is the same as or 
more protective than the manner in which the department or entity stores, 
transmits, and protects personally identifiable information the department 
or entity possesses; and 
(C)  Shall destroy the biometric identifier within three (3) calendar 
days. 
(5)  Neither the department nor an entity contracting with the department 
to provide a mobile software application or other method for utilizing a digital 
driver license system shall capture or retain geolocation data of a person for 
purposes of the digital driver license system. 
 (h)  Any data provided by a person to any entity contracting with the department 
to provide a mobile software application or other method for utilizing a digital driver 
license system is personally identifiable information of the person and must not be sold, 
redisclosed, or otherwise utilized by the entity, except as otherwise provided in 
subdivision (f)(2). 
(i)   
 
 
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(1)  A person participating in the digital driver license system is not 
required to use a digital driver license in lieu of a physical driver license for 
identification or other purposes. 
(2)  A private or public entity shall not require, or provide preferential 
service based on, a person's use of a digital driver license in lieu of a physical 
driver license. 
 (j) 
 (1)  The department shall disable, suspend, or terminate a person's 
participation in the digital driver license system if: 
 (A)  The physical driver license issued to the participant has been 
cancelled, revoked, or suspended as provided in this chapter; or 
 (B)  The participant reports that the participant's electronic device 
has been lost or stolen. 
 (2)  The digital driver license must be disabled at the time of suspension, 
cancellation, or revocation of the physical driver license, and must be removed 
from the device within twenty (20) days if the physical driver license has not been 
restored.  
(k)  For purposes of this section, "driver license" includes a photo identification 
license issued under § 55-50-336. 
 SECTION 9.  Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-50-102(22)(D), is amended by 
deleting the subdivision and substituting instead:  
 (D)  CLASS D.  This license shall be issued and valid for the operation of any 
vehicle, including autocycles, that does not meet the definition of a commercial motor 
vehicle, except vehicles in Classes A, B, C, or M or vehicles that require a special 
endorsement unless the proper endorsement appears on the license;   
 
 
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SECTION 10.  This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.