AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 55, relative to transportation.
Summary
SB1148 amends Tennessee transportation law by adding a definition of the term “fully enclosed” to Tennessee Code Annotated § 55-9-302. Under the bill, “fully enclosed” means a vehicle or device has side panels, a roll bar or roof, and a windshield. The measure is narrow and definitional, and it does not create a new regulatory program or impose a new penalty; instead, it clarifies how an existing statutory term is to be interpreted.
Because the bill only adds a definition, its practical effect is to guide how the underlying transportation statute is applied to vehicles or equipment that must meet a “fully enclosed” standard. The change may affect drivers, vehicle owners, manufacturers, law enforcement, and regulators who need to determine whether a particular vehicle configuration falls within the statute’s scope. It takes effect immediately upon becoming law.
Impact
The bill amends Title 55 of the Tennessee Code by inserting a statutory definition into § 55-9-302. This will affect interpretation and enforcement of the existing transportation provision that uses the term “fully enclosed,” likely reducing ambiguity in compliance determinations and legal disputes over vehicle design or equipment requirements. No other statutes are directly changed, and the bill’s impact is limited to clarifying the meaning of one term within Tennessee’s transportation code.
Sentiment
The available voting history shows strong support for the bill, with the Transportation and Safety Committee recommending passage by an 8-0 vote. There are no committee transcripts indicating opposition or extended debate, and the bill ultimately became Public Chapter No. 197. Overall, the sentiment appears favorable and noncontroversial, consistent with a technical clarification measure.
Contention
No notable substantive contention is reflected in the available materials. The only likely point of discussion would be whether the new definition of “fully enclosed” is sufficiently precise for enforcement and whether it could affect which vehicles are covered by the underlying statute. However, the unanimous committee vote and lack of recorded debate suggest that any concerns were minimal or resolved through amendment.