TennesseeHB 0212114th General Assembly (2025-2026)HouseWALLET

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 55, Chapter 4, relative to license plates.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

10 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 6 mixed.

More time to launch plates

The law starts July 1, 2025. It gives several specialty plates more time to reach the required number of initial orders. The deadline moves to July 1, 2026 for plates such as Grand Ole Opry, Prince Hall Masonic Family, End Overdose, Northeast State Community College, and Tennessee Grocers. It also updates related deadline dates in law to July 1, 2026. This does not change who can buy a plate or the fee amount.

Fixes to veteran plate citations

Starting July 1, 2025, the law corrects statute cites for specialty plates. It points §55-4-341(d) to the right subsection for minimum issuance rules (§55-4-202(k)(1)). It also clarifies which laws authorize combat veteran, Marine Corps League, and paratrooper plates. These are citation fixes only and do not change who qualifies or the fees.

Jonesborough plate can fund Chester Inn

Beginning July 1, 2025, money from the Town of Jonesborough specialty plate can support the Chester Inn State Historic Site. The law allows plate proceeds to promote tourism and preserve history in Jonesborough and nearby areas, including Chester Inn. This does not change who can buy the plate or the fees.

More time for specialty plate sales

Beginning July 1, 2025, several specialty plates get until July 1, 2026 to meet minimum sales rules. Examples include Nashville Humane Association, Respiratory Care, Rolling Thunder, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Ovarian Cancer Awareness, and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. The law also moves deadlines in §55-4-330(b)(4) and §55-4-341(d)(5) from July 1, 2025 to July 1, 2026. This keeps these plates available longer while sponsors work to reach the numbers. It does not change who can buy the plates or the fees.

New health and patient support plates

Starting July 1, 2025, you can choose new health specialty plates. You must live in Tennessee and register the vehicle. You pay the normal fee plus the state specialty plate fee. Money stays in Tennessee and helps: Man2Man prostate screenings and support. ALS research at Vanderbilt and ALS advocacy. Youth mental-health education by Prevention Coalition for Success. Organ and tissue donation through Donate Life. Harwood Center services for children with developmental disabilities. Therapeutic riding programs at STAR.

New plates for veterans and heroes

Starting July 1, 2025, new plates honor and support veterans and first responders. You must live in Tennessee and register the vehicle. You pay your normal fee plus the specialty plate fee. Money supports Cooking with a Veteran to fight food insecurity. It supports the Tennessee Fallen Firefighter’s Memorial and families of the fallen. It supports Slow Down Move Over safety and the Wall of the Fallen Survivor Fund. It supports Memories of Honor memorials and family programs.

Plates for community, culture, sports

Starting July 1, 2025, you can choose new community and sports plates. You must live in Tennessee and register the vehicle. You pay your normal fee plus the specialty plate fee. Money stays in Tennessee and supports: Nashville Sounds education, youth programs, scholarships, and help for military families and first responders. Vintage Base Ball cultural and education work. Singing for Change social and environmental efforts. Sigma Gamma Rho programs. Order of the Eastern Star (Rachel Chapter 30) community service. Youth pickleball through the Tennessee Junior Pickleball Association.

Plates for parks, pets, environment

Starting July 1, 2025, you can choose plates that help nature and animals. You must live in Tennessee and register the vehicle. You pay the normal fee plus the specialty plate fee. Money stays in Tennessee and supports river cleanups, composting, recycling, tree and pollinator plantings. It supports Friends of Warner Parks stewardship. It supports The Elephant Sanctuary’s care and education work. It helps Tennessee Dachshund Rescue with vet care and supplies.

Remote Area Medical plate update

Beginning July 1, 2025, Tennessee keeps and updates the Remote Area Medical specialty plate. The state consults the group on the design, which may note free care since 1985 and its 40th year. Proceeds go to Remote Area Medical and must be used in Tennessee to provide free medical, dental, and vision care for uninsured and underinsured people. To buy the plate, you must be a Tennessee resident registering a vehicle and pay the regular fee plus the annual specialty plate fee.

Plates that fund youth and students

Starting July 1, 2025, you can pick plates that fund youth and students. You must live in Tennessee and register the vehicle. You pay your normal fee plus the specialty plate fee. Money stays in Tennessee and helps: YMCA health and youth programs. D.A.R.E. officer training and student prevention. Kiwanis youth service projects. Jack and Jill family and child programs. Tennessee college leadership and scholarships through TISL. Florida A&M scholarships, with first priority for Tennessee students enrolled there.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Dan Howell
Republican • House

Cosponsors

Jeremy Faison
Republican • House
Andrew Farmer
Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 282 • No: 0

House vote • 4/22/2025

FLOOR VOTE: MESSAGE CALENDAR 2 CONCUR IN SENATE AMENDMENT # 2 4/22/2025

Yes: 94 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/21/2025

FLOOR VOTE: as Amended Third Consideration 4/21/2025

Yes: 32 • No: 0

House vote • 4/14/2025

HOUSE CALENDAR & RULES COMMITTEE

Yes: 0 • No: 0

House vote • 4/14/2025

FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/14/2025

Yes: 93 • No: 0

House vote • 4/8/2025

HOUSE FINANCE, WAYS, AND MEANS COMMITTEE

Yes: 26 • No: 0

House vote • 4/2/2025

HOUSE FINANCE, WAYS, AND MEANS SUBCOMMITTEE

Yes: 10 • No: 0

House vote • 3/25/2025

HOUSE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE

Yes: 19 • No: 0

House vote • 3/18/2025

HOUSE TRANSPORTATION SUBCOMMITTEE

Yes: 8 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

Pub. Ch. 479
5/27/2025
Effective date(s) 07/01/2025
5/27/2025
Signed by Governor.
5/21/2025
Transmitted to Governor for his action.
5/9/2025House
Signed by Senate Speaker
5/8/2025Senate
Signed by H. Speaker
4/30/2025House
Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.
4/25/2025House
H. Placed on Message Calendar 2 for 4/22/2025
4/22/2025House
H. concurred in S. am. no. 2 Ayes 94, Nays 0 PNV 0 HB0212
4/22/2025House
Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.
4/21/2025Senate
Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - SA0188)
4/21/2025Senate
Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 2 - SA0437)
4/21/2025Senate
Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 32, Nays 0
4/21/2025Senate
Received from House, Passed on First Consideration
4/15/2025Senate
H. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA0158)
4/14/2025House
H. adopted am. (Amendment 2 - HA0341)
4/14/2025House
Passed H., as am., Ayes 93, Nays 0, PNV 0
4/14/2025House
Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.
4/14/2025House
Sponsor(s) Added.
4/10/2025House
H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/14/2025
4/10/2025House
Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/10/2025
4/9/2025House
Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee
4/8/2025House
Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
4/2/2025House
Placed on cal. Finance, Ways, and Means Committee for 4/8/2025
4/2/2025House
Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/2/2025
3/26/2025House

Bill Text

HA0158 (Substitute)
4/14/2025
PDF
Enrolled / Public Chapter
PDF
Fiscal Note
PDF
HA0341
PDF
Introduced
PDF
SA0188
PDF
SA0437
PDF

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