Tennessee House Bill HB2612

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/3/26
• Refer: 2/5/26
• Refer: 3/10/26
• Refer: 3/17/26
• Refer: 4/15/26

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 55, Chapter 50, relative to application procedures for driver licenses.

Summary

HB2612 requires Tennessee driver license station staff to ask applicants, at the time of application or renewal, whether they want a REAL ID-compliant license or a non-REAL ID license. If the applicant is present in person, staff must provide a printed form for the applicant to sign and check a box indicating the choice, and the form must explain the documentation needed for each option, the uses of each type of license, acceptable alternatives to REAL ID for domestic air travel and access to certain federal facilities, and the electronic technology associated with each credential. The bill also requires the Department of Safety’s website to prominently state that obtaining a REAL ID-compliant driver license is optional. It defines “driver license” broadly to include photo identification licenses and learner’s permits, and it distinguishes between licenses that do and do not comply with the federal REAL ID Act and related regulations. The act is set to take effect July 1, 2026.

Impact

The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 55, Chapter 50, by adding new application and renewal procedures for driver licenses, photo IDs, and learner’s permits. It would require state licensing staff to provide standardized written disclosures and process non-REAL ID applications when chosen, while also imposing a website notice requirement on the Department of Safety. The measure does not change federal REAL ID standards, but it changes how Tennessee informs applicants and administers the choice between compliant and noncompliant credentials.

Sentiment

The committee votes suggest generally favorable support for the bill, with strong majorities advancing it through the House Transportation Subcommittee, House Transportation Committee, and House Finance, Ways, and Means Committee. The recorded votes were overwhelmingly in favor, including one unanimous committee vote and only one dissenting vote in the earlier transportation stages. No committee transcripts were provided, so the available record indicates broad procedural support rather than detailed debate.

Contention

The main point of contention appears to be the policy emphasis on making the REAL ID choice more explicit and ensuring applicants understand the consequences of each option. Supporters likely view the bill as a consumer-information measure that improves transparency and preserves the option to obtain a non-REAL ID credential. Any opposition appears limited, but the single no vote suggests at least some concern about the added administrative requirements, the emphasis on optionality, or the potential for confusion around REAL ID compliance and federal identification uses.