Tennessee House Bill HB0559

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/29/25
• Refer: 2/5/25

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-8-199, relative to use of a wireless telecommunications device while operating a motor vehicle.

Summary

HB0559 narrows and restructures Tennessee’s restrictions on physically holding or supporting a wireless telecommunications device while driving. Under current law, the prohibition applies broadly; this bill would limit the “physically hold or support” language to two higher-risk settings: work zones when TDOT employees or construction workers are present, and marked school zones when warning flashers are operating. The bill also revises the penalty structure for violations of the wireless-device law, distinguishing between the newly targeted hold-or-support offense and other prohibited uses of a wireless device while operating a motor vehicle. For the hold-or-support violation in a work zone or active school zone, the bill sets a Class C misdemeanor punishable only by a $200 fine. For other violations under the section, the bill keeps them as Class C misdemeanors but generally lowers the fine to no more than $50, while increasing the fine to $100 for a third or subsequent offense or when the violation causes an accident. It also allows a $200 fine for those other violations when they occur in an active work zone or school zone, and it caps court costs at $10 while making state and local litigation taxes inapplicable. The act would take effect July 1, 2025.

Impact

The bill would amend Tennessee Code Annotated § 55-8-199, changing both the scope of the handheld-device prohibition and the associated penalties for distracted-driving offenses. It would reduce the statewide reach of the specific “physically hold or support” ban by confining it to active work zones and school zones, while preserving enforcement for other wireless-device conduct under the same section. The measure would also alter fine amounts, court-cost limits, and tax treatment for prosecutions under the statute, affecting drivers, law enforcement, prosecutors, and courts.

Sentiment

The available voting history suggests limited opposition at the subcommittee stage, with the House Transportation Subcommittee deferring the bill to summer study by a 9-0 vote. That indicates the bill was not rejected outright, but rather set aside for further consideration. No committee transcript is available, so the broader discussion appears to have been procedural and cautious rather than sharply divided.

Contention

The main point of contention is the bill’s narrowing of the handheld-device restriction. Supporters may view the change as a targeted approach that focuses stricter enforcement on the most dangerous driving environments—work zones and school zones—while easing penalties elsewhere. Opponents could argue that limiting the “physically hold or support” prohibition weakens distracted-driving enforcement generally and may create confusion by treating similar conduct differently depending on location. The revised fine structure and the special treatment of work zones and school zones are likely the most debated provisions.