[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6632537,"mediaKeyId","2672972-eed96a4e330add0183e09e2e68c66d6c","parentId",2672972,"title","Committee hears testimony from Mechanics on a Mission, rolls titling language to January 2026 calendar","audioSeconds",384,"startMs",2401000,"endMs",2785000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2672972-eed96a4e330add0183e09e2e68c66d6c&start=2401&end=2785","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2672972-eed96a4e330add0183e09e2e68c66d6c/thumbnail_2401000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6632537/Tennessee/Committee-hears-testimony-from-Mechanics-on-a-Mission-rolls-titling-language-to-January-2026-calendar","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6632537-4948a917a7f5da5036cdb00a1e7c1e6f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771033330&Signature=ax~~GTfUA1QFoajQN5YCpF0UnTj4Q4THaNaBFnfxlMszR5MfH5I~g3MKP3ub6dRLlu1IMvZ2OqWPqjMGyTZFJhx-viqkImujN8vxcqNaAGM68eJvPBR396ataU-WMkmpRSMc62e5DYBhzqa2npiwwmgklKo5ZpPph6h4-FCi86Hh7FqPYMgG8N633GoEGYRUoUSvA72TS4Bw2Cw9PAgWJ3L9k1tWO1ZNFVZpJX9s6X~6mCiUMHA5-8ToAz368HxkOwFAE8j9Q4A0GQZcV~6dZbpKGeQAupNm0MTsSEmDKFDBSz4JaB29ArJy-FSViwr21GsCtIqL6GQ~FIN3TgrF8Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","TN House of Representatives","date","2025-03-18T17:40:20.213Z","article","The House Transportation Committee on March 18 heard a three‑minute presentation from Brian Sweat, executive director of Mechanics on a Mission, a Tennessee nonprofit that repairs donated vehicles and donates them at no cost to military veterans, single parents and other people in transportation crises.

Sweat described the group's model and modest scale to date. \"We provide free cars and car repairs to military veterans, single parents, widows. That's our target audience,\" he said. Sweat told the committee the nonprofit had given away 60 vehicles in its third year and hoped to give away 100 this year; volunteers and funding are the principal constraints on scaling the operation.

Committee action and next steps

Committee members added amendment 004056 to the bill language, heard the witness, and — by unanimous consent — agreed to roll the item to the first calendar on January 26, 2026 so sponsors and stakeholders could finalize language addressing titling and dealer‑licensing issues that currently complicate vehicle transfers by nonprofits.

Sweat said the organization is working with dealers, auction access and local partners to scale and that the committee could assist by refining statutory language around titling and nonprofit purchase/transfer processes. He closed by describing the life‑changing impact on recipients and the group's goal to scale to a larger number of vehicles over time.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Transportation Committee- March 18, 2025- House Hearing Room 1","oneSentenceSummary","Mechanics on a Mission executive director described the nonprofit's work donating repaired vehicles to veterans, single parents and others; the committee added an amendment and by consent rolled the item to the first calendar of January 26, 2026 for additional drafting and stakeholder work.","taxTitle","Transportation, House of Representatives, Committees, Legislative, Tennessee","taxId",35450,"location","Tennessee","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6632541,"Committee advances bill adding safeguards for mobile driver's licenses after Department of Safety testimony",697,431000,1128000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2672972-eed96a4e330add0183e09e2e68c66d6c&start=431&end=1128","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2672972-eed96a4e330add0183e09e2e68c66d6c/thumbnail_431000.jpg","/articles/6632541/Tennessee/Committee-advances-bill-adding-safeguards-for-mobile-drivers-licenses-after-Department-of-Safety-testimony","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6632541-400bd1ac097a8dcf071a4cce9dd11766/orig.mp4?Expires=1771033330&Signature=UBvnWOmk8gHOvh9SYdRbYBKnXURBt0SPZgMDIql1Cm6o4SylNEJYThA55Odnrwm9KWenWtf9CfhldRquUbFEv~h90aJtzAhOlNvhebDXbdakf~LgumgIIBoLDEwXxSjlZ5PsV8865fJHcYO3HofAGuSnSy7iCSloaOFBP7-JbEpzzjPWJ6c9BpT-psVDpTOb2AazhwprJKY4Pvg-uC7Y9Q6IL5ZZloiXbhWfmNsLbBJz8VBn0ez4vW9kbum1lpBoTclCDwR2j4-Gyw6bmcE78mpzuc95wvm~XfBsbNZn3WKRJmV4ca12Qt5TceyqpbxEKG3B~F8W22P61lAI3sZlhA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House members advanced legislation intended to place statutory limits on data retention and sale of personal information connected to mobile driver's licenses, and to expressly prohibit using a digital driver's license for voting identification.

Representative McCallum, the bill sponsor, told the House Transportation Committee the measure clarifies that state law should prohibit retention or sale of personal information collected through mobile driver's licenses and aligns statutory drivers‑license rules with current departmental practice. \"This proposal will fix that issue,\" McCallum said while explaining the bill.

Department of Safety testimony

Elizabeth Stroker, legislative director and assistant general counsel for the Tennessee Department of Safety, told the committee the state has already developed the mobile‑ID app within state government and that third parties would be able to make the app available as an option to users or businesses. \"The app was created within the department, within state government,\" Stroker said. \"The third party will be, it could be, you know, your cell phone carrier who you can download any app from, so it's an option for you, or any business that may want to utilize a digital driver's license. But the app itself was created within the department.\"

Stroker also confirmed the program is optional for individuals and businesses. \"It's optional if you want to use a digital license. It's optional if a business wants to use a digital license. And, we have said that businesses cannot mandate a digital license. So it is 100% optional,\" she said.

Committee questions and concerns

Committee members asked whether the bill authorized third‑party vendors and whether the state could require a digital ID if the bill failed. McCallum clarified that the digital ID would exist whether or not the bill passed, and that this legislation provides statutory safeguards; department staff said the app has been created and third‑party distribution was an option, not a delegation of development.

Several members expressed privacy concerns about biometric and retention risks. One member pointed to prior federal data breaches and said even short retention windows can risk exposure; the member said he would not support the bill on philosophical grounds and said he could not vote for the state moving in a direction that collects biometric data. Another member asked how many states have implemented similar programs; Stroker answered: \"I believe it's about 10. It really picked up about 2 or 3 years ago, and more and more states are about ready where they're gonna look at launching as well.\"

Vote and procedural status

The committee voted to advance the bill to Calendar and Rules, 16 ayes to 3 nays. Committee members emphasized that the measure, as explained, is intended to provide statutory guardrails on data retention and sale and to prevent businesses from mandating digital IDs.

","The committee voted 16–3 on a bill to add statutory limits on retention and sale of data tied to mobile driver's licenses and to prohibit using digital IDs for voting; Department of Safety staff told the committee the app was developed internally and usage is optional.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6632546,"Votes at a glance: House Transportation Committee advances bills on digital IDs, fees, borrow pits and more",0,266000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2672972-eed96a4e330add0183e09e2e68c66d6c&start=266&end=266","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2672972-eed96a4e330add0183e09e2e68c66d6c/thumbnail_266000.jpg","/articles/6632546/Tennessee/Votes-at-a-glance-House-Transportation-Committee-advances-bills-on-digital-IDs-fees-borrow-pits-and-more","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6632546-bbee35fe3aeedf25f6f2514a6e3c9754/orig.mp4?Expires=1771033331&Signature=Qr1x2~1bHab~zgocNJ~aRpbOOTRn-iU1-vuGIlGnaP7wVD2wTlo7C5Ntu~sI~uPIlcq6roj5-bc7R6HGWhmRaRIMsEKVYJaESwPVHEChq1dyOJrXN025NiF~T-D9FeyObxbFeiBgNTDUq682gfobTaF8pGNVUvM-fsYkVhl4koPLBY10w9tv-23W1OT4xL1LrPWeK7SgsrPA-stGCBakr-bsV7Sgn6DhWfwQt0aho2Z~SrfcgseTcTLqNCrhRVLGv~80wiqIzEYVVPV6HD6t78LBwK-NStvmKzxfdzLjVoH2qXpNElZjJb307p-PNOdU7g6sA9jcrLbPSdrHWhH6JA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Tennessee House Transportation Committee on March 18 moved a slate of bills and requests to later calendars, voting on measures that covered digital driver's licenses, registration and processing fee adjustments, temporary protections for borrow pits, traffic-solicitation penalties and other transportation-related items.

Committee action (highlights)

- House Bill 621 (motor vehicle warranty protection business): Committee report and explanation were offered by the sponsor. The committee voted 18 ayes, 0 nays; the bill was reported to Calendar and Rules.

- House Bill 1316 (digital/mobile driver's license safeguards): After extended questioning and testimony from the Department of Safety, the committee voted 16 ayes, 3 nays. The bill, as explained by the sponsor, adds statutory limits on retention and sale of personal information associated with mobile driver's licenses and clarifies the digital ID cannot be used for voting. The bill was reported to Calendar and Rules.

- House Bill (item 3 on the agenda; bill number as read aloud in committee: House Bill 1129): Sponsor amendment (drafting code 4943) rewrote the bill to provide temporary statutory authority to ensure existing borrow pits may continue supplying materials for road rebuilding after Hurricane Helene; bill contains a sunset date of June 30, 2039. Vote: 18 ayes, 0 nays. The bill was reported to Finance.

- House Bill 2624 (registration and licensing processing fees): The bill permits county clerks to increase certain handling/processing fees (example figures discussed in committee: license-plate mail renewals from $5 to $7 and decal processing from $1–$2 to $3) on a permissive basis. Fiscal-note estimates cited by the sponsor projected roughly $22,000,000 in FY26 under permissive statewide adoption. Vote: 19 ayes, 0 nays. The bill was reported to Finance.

- House Bill 302 (amendment / traffic-solicitation penalties): The committee approved a bill making it a Class C misdemeanor to stop or park on a street or highway to solicit employment; a subsequent violation that causes an accident would be a Class B misdemeanor. Debate included concerns that brief stops for legitimate on‑property solicitations could be criminalized and that enforcement should not prevent people from seeking work. Vote: 14 ayes, 4 nays. The bill was reported to Count and Rule.

- House Bill 655: Rolled one week at sponsor's request (no final action taken).

- House Bill 864 (uninsured drivers / insurance-related measure): Sponsor asked to roll the bill to the first calendar of January 26, 2026 to allow additional stakeholder work; no final vote taken in this committee on March 18.

- Mechanics on a Mission (legislative language presented as part of item 10 / related amendment 004056): The committee accepted an amendment onto the bill, heard a three‑minute testimony from Brian Sweat, executive director of Mechanics on a Mission (a nonprofit that repairs and donates vehicles to veterans, single parents and others), and by unanimous consent rolled the item to the first calendar of January 26, 2026 for further work.

- House Bill 217 (redesignation of Nashville International Airport to \"Trump International Airport\"): Sponsor presented; committee discussion touched on fiscal responsibility, existing state appropriations to the airport and legacy naming. Vote: 5 ayes, 12 nays, 1 present-not-voting — the motion failed.

- Representative Alexander's bill (helmet/vehicle enclosure definition): An amendment (4265) added language defining \"fully enclosed\" for certain vehicles (side panels, roll bar, roof, windshield), allowing those vehicles to be operated without helmets. Vote: 17 ayes, 0 nays. The bill was reported to Calendar and Rules.

- Representative Bridal's study request (Comprehensive transportation funding study): Amendment directs a study on sustainable transportation funding (rentals, delivery fees, vehicle sales tax, impact fees, etc.) with a report due to the General Assembly by Sept. 30, 2026. Vote: 18 ayes, 0 nays. The bill was reported to Finance.

- House bill expanding acceptable discharge documentation for DMV (allowing certain National Guard documentation for driver's-license military designation): Vote: 17 ayes, 0 nays. The bill was reported to Calendar and Rules.

What the committee said

Committee members and sponsors repeatedly framed bills as safety or administrative fixes or as measures intended to preserve infrastructure and local flexibility. Multiple sponsors emphasized permissive language (for example, processing-fee changes and local option surcharges) and said local adoption or ballot approval would be required where applicable.

Noted fiscal and policy concerns included: the fiscal note tied to the proposed airport renaming (committee members described a multi‑million-dollar estimate and existing state appropriations to BNA), data‑security worries and the voluntariness of mobile driver's licenses, and how enforcement of any anti‑solicitation road rule could affect low‑income workers seeking short‑term employment.

Where items go next

Bills reported to Calendar and Rules will be scheduled for floor action or further committee consideration per the House process; measures reported to Finance move to that committee for fiscal analysis before further action.

Ending note

Several items were rolled to future calendars to allow additional stakeholder work; the committee heard public testimony from a nonprofit operator and Department of Safety staff during the meeting.

","The House Transportation Committee on March 18, 2025, advanced a set of bills ranging from digital driver's license safeguards to temporary measures protecting borrow pits. The committee also considered nonprofit titling language and a failed proposal to rename Nashville International Airport.","actionData","errors"]

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Committee hears testimony from Mechanics on a Mission, rolls titling language to January 2026 calendar

Committee advances bill adding safeguards for mobile driver's licenses after Department of Safety testimony

Votes at a glance: House Transportation Committee advances bills on digital IDs, fees, borrow pits and more