Truancy-Driven Driving Privilege Suspension Act
Summary
Tennessee SB2201 passed both chambers on March 30 and April 7, 2026, amending Tennessee Code Annotated Titles 37, 49 Chapter 6 Part 30, and 55 Chapter 10. The law authorizes juvenile court judges to suspend the driving privileges of students adjudicated as unruly due to unlawful school absences for up to one year. The bill was sponsored by Senators Ferrell Haile, Paul Rose, and Brent Taylor.
What changed
The legislation expands juvenile court disposition authority under TCA Title 37 to include suspension of a student's driver's license or driving privileges for up to 12 months when a student is adjudicated unruly due to unlawful absence from school. The amendment to TCA Title 49 Chapter 6 Part 30 establishes the truancy-to-license suspension pipeline, while changes to TCA Title 55 Chapter 10 address driver licensing procedures for affected minors.
School districts, juvenile courts, and the Department of Revenue must coordinate implementation. Schools issuing truancy referrals to juvenile court should advise students and parents that adjudication may now result in license suspension. Courts must establish procedures for ordering and lifting driving privilege suspensions. Compliance with confidentiality requirements under juvenile court rules remains essential throughout the process.
What to do next
- Update juvenile court procedures and disposition options to include driving privilege suspension authority
- Inform school administrators and truancy officers of new juvenile court referral consequences
- Coordinate with the Tennessee Department of Revenue on implementing driving privilege suspensions for adjudicated students
Penalties
Driving privilege suspension for up to one year for students found unruly in juvenile court due to unlawful school absences
Source document (simplified)
ChangeBridge / Tennessee / SB2201 Passed SB2201 Senate Bill Passed 2026-03-30
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 37; Title 49, Chapter 6, Part 30 and Title 55, Chapter 10, relative to truancy.
As introduced, specifies that if a student is referred to juvenile court for being unlawfully absent from school and is ultimately adjudicated to be unruly, that the disposition made by the juvenile judge or magistrate may include the suspension of the student's driving privileges or ability to obtain a driver license for a period of up to one year. - Amends TCA Title 37; Title 49, Chapter 6, Part 30 and Title 55, Chapter 10.
Bill Details
State Tennessee
Session 114th General Assembly
Chamber Senate
Official Source wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/Default?...
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Sponsors
Ferrell Haile (Sen - R) Paul Rose (Sen - R) Brent Taylor (Sen - R)
Action History
2026-04-07 H Passed H., Ayes 67, Nays 18, PNV 3 2026-04-07 H Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA1004) 2026-04-07 H Subst. for comp. HB. 2026-04-02 H Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk. 2026-03-30 S Engrossed; ready for transmission to House 2026-03-30 S Sponsor(s) Added. 2026-03-30 S Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 26, Nays 7 2026-03-30 S Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0770) 2026-03-27 S Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 3/30/2026 2026-03-17 S Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 6, Nays 2 PNV 0 2026-03-16 S Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/17/2026 2026-03-16 S Action deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 3/17/2026 2026-03-11 S Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/16/2026 2026-02-05 S Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee 2026-02-02 S Introduced, Passed on First Consideration 2026-02-02 S Filed for introduction
Votes
2026-03-17 SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 6, Nays 2 PNV 0 Yea: 6 Nay: 2 2026-03-30 FLOOR VOTE: as Amended Third Consideration Yea: 26 Nay: 7
Committee Referrals
2026-02-05 S Judiciary 2026-03-17 S Calendar
Amendments
2026-03-18 SA0770
Bill Text Versions
2026-02-02 Draft
Subjects
Juvenile Offenders Legislative data powered by LegiScan (CC BY 4.0)
Named provisions
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