Tennessee House Bill HB1025

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/5/25
• Refer: 2/10/25
• Refer: 3/5/25
• Refer: 3/26/25
• Engrossed: 4/8/25
• Enrolled: 4/9/25
• Passed: 4/24/25
• Chaptered: 4/28/25

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 37; Title 39 and Title 55, Chapter 10, Part 7, relative to juvenile offenders.

Summary

HB1025 amends Tennessee law governing juvenile offenders to require a one-year suspension of a minor’s driving privileges, or the ability to obtain a driver license, when the juvenile is adjudicated delinquent for the covered offense in Tennessee Code Annotated § 39-17-308(a)(5). The court may, however, issue a restricted driver license in limited circumstances. The restricted license provision allows a qualifying juvenile, if not previously adjudicated delinquent for the same offense, to drive only for travel to and from school during regular school hours, to and from work, and to and from church services. The bill expressly prohibits use of the restricted license for social events or extracurricular school activities, and requires the court order to specify the permitted times and places of operation as precisely as practicable. A certified copy of the court order may temporarily serve as a license until the Department of Safety issues the restricted license, after payment of a $20 fee and satisfaction of age and testing requirements. The bill also amends the driver licensing statutes in Title 55 to create the procedure for issuing the restricted license and ties the suspension to the juvenile disposition process. It takes effect July 1, 2025, and applies only to acts committed on or after that date, meaning it is prospective rather than retroactive. Overall, the bill appears to have been received favorably in the legislature, advancing through subcommittee and committee with strong majorities and passing the House floor by a wide margin before final passage. The vote history suggests broad support for the measure, with only limited opposition at earlier stages and no recorded dissent on the final Senate third consideration vote shown in the materials.

Impact

HB1025 changes Tennessee’s juvenile justice and driver licensing laws by mandating a one-year suspension of driving privileges for certain juvenile delinquency adjudications and by authorizing a narrow restricted-license exception. It affects Title 37 juvenile disposition provisions, Title 39 offense-related consequences, and Title 55 licensing procedures, while giving courts and the Department of Safety defined roles in implementing the restriction and any limited driving permission.

Sentiment

The bill’s legislative path indicates generally positive sentiment and bipartisan acceptance. It moved out of the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee and House Judiciary Committee with comfortable margins, then passed the House floor by a substantial vote, suggesting lawmakers largely supported the approach of pairing accountability with limited mobility for school, work, and church needs. The final recorded Senate third consideration vote was unanimous in the provided history.

Contention

The main point of contention appears to have been the balance between punishment and practical access to transportation for juveniles. Supporters likely viewed the mandatory suspension as an appropriate consequence for the covered delinquent act, while the restricted-license provision reflects concern about preserving access to education, employment, and religious services. The limited opposition in committee and on the House floor suggests disagreement was present but not extensive, and the restrictions excluding social events and extracurricular activities indicate lawmakers were drawing a firm line around permissible driving purposes.