AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49 and Title 55, relative to driver education.
Summary
SB2535 directs the Tennessee Department of Education to promote and expand driver education and training courses in public schools across the state. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, to require the Department of Education, working with the Department of Safety, to develop guidelines for local education agencies and public charter schools that offer driver education. Those guidelines must include safety tips for safe driving and sharing the road, use of the state driver license manual for instructional purposes, and instruction on the dangers of driving under the influence and distracted driving.
The measure is aimed at broadening access to driver education while standardizing core instructional content. It does not create a new licensing scheme or criminal penalty, but it does place a statewide policy directive on education agencies and schools that choose to provide driver education. The act takes effect July 1, 2026, and its practical effect is to shape how driver education programs are designed and delivered in Tennessee public schools and charter schools.
Impact
SB2535 amends Title 49 of the Tennessee Code Annotated and affects the responsibilities of the Department of Education and the Department of Safety regarding driver education. It requires the state to develop guidance for LEAs and public charter schools offering driver education, which may influence curriculum content, instructional materials, and program consistency statewide. The bill also reinforces the role of public schools in providing driver training, but it does not mandate that every school offer such a course.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have broad support and little visible opposition. It passed the Senate Education Committee unanimously and later passed a floor vote 32-0, suggesting strong bipartisan agreement or at least no recorded dissent. The available record shows no committee debate or controversy, and the bill was ultimately enacted as Public Chapter No. 735.
Contention
No significant points of contention are reflected in the available committee or floor records. The main policy choice is whether the state should actively promote and expand driver education and set statewide instructional guidelines, but the votes indicate that legislators were comfortable with that approach. Any potential concerns would likely center on implementation for local school systems and charter schools, including curriculum requirements and coordination with the Department of Safety, but those concerns are not documented in the provided materials.
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 37; Title 49; Title 50 and Title 55, relative to the Family Right to Educational Emancipation (FREE) Act.
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 37; Title 49; Title 50 and Title 55, relative to the Family Right to Educational Emancipation (FREE) Act.