Tennessee Senate Bill SB2638

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/2/26

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39; Title 40 and Title 55, Chapter 10, relative to driving under the influence of an intoxicant.

Summary

SB2638 amends Tennessee’s DUI sentencing and restricted-license provisions to create an alternative to ignition interlock devices for certain offenders. Under current law, a person convicted of driving under the influence who is eligible for a restricted license may be ordered to operate only a vehicle equipped with an ignition interlock device. This bill allows that person to request, and allows the court to order, a transdermal monitoring device instead of an ignition interlock device when the court determines that such a restriction is appropriate. The bill applies only to persons convicted under Tennessee’s DUI statute who are otherwise eligible for a restricted license. It does not eliminate monitoring or supervision; rather, it substitutes one form of alcohol-monitoring technology for another. The bill also makes clear that the offender must pay all costs associated with the transdermal monitoring device and cannot receive assistance from the electronic monitoring indigency fund.

Impact

The bill would amend Tennessee Code Annotated § 55-10-409 by adding a new subsection authorizing courts to use transdermal alcohol monitoring in lieu of ignition interlock requirements for eligible DUI offenders. It would affect sentencing and post-conviction driving restrictions for people convicted of DUI, as well as courts administering restricted licenses and monitoring conditions. The bill also expressly excludes these devices from indigency-fund assistance, shifting the full financial burden to the offender.

Sentiment

No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate or opposition in the available record. Based on the text alone, the bill appears to be framed as a practical enforcement option rather than a reduction in DUI penalties, suggesting a generally public-safety-oriented approach. The measure’s structure indicates support for continued monitoring of offenders while offering courts and defendants an alternative compliance method.

Contention

The main point of potential contention is the substitution of transdermal monitoring for ignition interlock devices, which may raise questions about effectiveness, privacy, and administrative feasibility. Supporters would likely emphasize flexibility and expanded monitoring options for courts and offenders, while critics could argue that the alternative may be less familiar or less proven than ignition interlocks. Another possible issue is cost, since the bill requires offenders to pay all expenses and bars use of the indigency fund, which could be burdensome for low-income defendants.