Tennessee Senate Bill SB1625

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/13/26
• Engrossed: 2/9/26
• Enrolled: 2/19/26
• Passed: 3/6/26
• Chaptered: 3/16/26

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 55, Chapter 8, relative to personal delivery devices.

Summary

SB1625 amends Tennessee traffic law to expressly authorize the operation of personal delivery devices—such as autonomous or semi-autonomous delivery robots—on sidewalks, crosswalks, bicycle lanes or paths, shoulders, the area adjacent to the right-hand edge or curb of the roadway, parking lots, and similar areas. The bill defines where these devices may operate and clarifies that they are generally treated like pedestrians when in pedestrian areas and like bicyclists in other areas, except where a rule cannot reasonably apply to the device. The bill also sets a speed limit framework for personal delivery devices, including a general limit and allowing speeds up to 20 miles per hour in other areas. It changes local government authority from being able to prohibit these devices by ordinance to being able to regulate them for public safety, so long as local rules are not inconsistent with state law. The act takes effect July 1, 2026.

Impact

The bill would amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 55, Chapter 8, by adding and revising provisions governing personal delivery devices. It creates a statewide legal framework for their operation in public rights-of-way and other specified areas, and it limits local governments to regulation rather than outright prohibition when public safety concerns exist. The measure affects operators of delivery robots and similar devices, as well as municipalities that may want to impose local operating rules.

Sentiment

The available voting history suggests broad support for the bill. It was recommended for passage in committee by a 9-0 vote, then passed the Senate floor with only one dissenting vote on third consideration, and later passed the House with a larger but still clear margin. No committee transcript is available, but the vote totals indicate the bill was generally viewed favorably and not especially controversial overall.

Contention

The main point of contention appears to be the balance between statewide authorization of personal delivery devices and local control. The bill removes local governments’ ability to prohibit these devices outright and instead allows only regulation for public safety, which may concern municipalities seeking stronger restrictions. Another possible issue is how the devices are classified and what traffic duties apply to them, since the bill extends pedestrian- or bicyclist-like rules only where they fit the nature of the device.