Tennessee Senate Bill SB1036

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/5/25

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 12 and Title 55, Chapter 50, relative to licenses.

Summary

SB1036 requires that all Tennessee driver licenses and photo identification licenses be manufactured and printed within the state. The bill directs the Department of Safety to review whether those licenses should be produced by the department itself, another state department or agency, or a private vendor, and to choose the most cost-effective option. In effect, it creates a state-local production requirement for these credentials while leaving the operational method open to administrative determination. The bill also sets a two-part effective date. It becomes effective immediately for the limited purpose of reviewing costs, contracts, and vendors, but its substantive requirement that licenses be manufactured and printed in Tennessee takes effect on January 1, 2026. The measure amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 55, Chapter 50, and may also implicate state procurement and contracting practices under Title 12 as the department evaluates production arrangements.

Impact

SB1036 would change Tennessee law governing the production of driver licenses and photo identification cards by requiring in-state manufacturing and printing. It gives the Department of Safety discretion to determine whether the work is done internally, by another state entity, or by a private vendor, so long as the chosen method is the most cost-effective and keeps production in Tennessee. The bill could affect existing vendor contracts, procurement decisions, and the state’s licensing operations, but it does not alter eligibility rules for obtaining licenses or IDs.

Sentiment

No committee transcripts or recorded votes are available, so there is no direct evidence of debate, support, or opposition in the provided materials. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears administrative and operational rather than ideological, with an emphasis on state control and cost-effectiveness. The immediate effective date for review suggests the sponsor wanted the department to begin evaluating current arrangements right away.

Contention

The main potential point of contention is whether requiring all licenses and photo IDs to be manufactured and printed in Tennessee will increase costs, disrupt existing contracts, or limit the state’s flexibility in choosing vendors. Supporters would likely emphasize in-state production, oversight, and possible economic benefits, while critics may question whether the mandate is necessary if out-of-state production could be cheaper or more efficient. Another possible issue is how the department will reconcile the in-state requirement with the directive to use the most cost-effective means.