AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-12-139, relative to proof of financial responsibility.
Summary
HB0119 makes a narrow technical amendment to Tennessee’s law on proof of financial responsibility. Specifically, it updates Tennessee Code Annotated § 55-12-139(b)(2)(B) by replacing a reference to the “commissioner of safety” with the “commissioner of revenue.” The bill does not create a new program or change the underlying insurance or financial-responsibility requirement; it simply corrects the statutory official responsible for the referenced function.
The bill takes effect on January 1, 2026. In practical terms, it aligns the statute with current administrative structure and ensures the correct state official is named in the law governing proof of financial responsibility, which is commonly associated with motor vehicle insurance compliance and related reporting or enforcement processes.
Impact
HB0119 amends a single provision in Title 55, Chapter 12, affecting the administration of Tennessee’s proof-of-financial-responsibility laws. The change shifts a statutory reference from the commissioner of safety to the commissioner of revenue, which may affect how the law is interpreted and administered by state agencies, but it does not alter substantive obligations for drivers, insurers, or other regulated parties.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been received very favorably and without controversy. It passed the Insurance Subcommittee 7-0, the House Insurance Committee 18-0, and the House floor 94-0 on consent calendar passage, indicating broad bipartisan agreement and a view that the measure was a routine housekeeping or technical correction rather than a substantive policy change.
Contention
There is no recorded committee debate or opposition in the available materials, and all votes were unanimous. As a result, no notable points of contention are evident. The only issue implicit in the bill is administrative accuracy—ensuring the statute names the correct commissioner—but that appears to have been uncontroversial.