6/10/04-Gov. Phil Bredesen signed legislation – SB3430 – restricting who can get a driver’s license in the state.
The new law that goes into effect July 1 prohibits some legal immigrants and all undocumented immigrants from getting state licenses.
Under the provision, a new official document called a “certificate of driving” will be issued to state residents who want to drive but cannot prove they are legally in the country.
The certificate will also be issued to legal immigrants here temporarily, such as students and temporary workers, and will expire along with their immigration documents.
The document will be used only for driving and to obtain insurance. The certificate cannot be used as official government identification, for example, either to board a plan or to buy a gun.
All other state residents, including legal immigrants here on permanent basis, will continue to receive the current state driver’s license.

5/18/04-The House sent a bill restricting who can get a driver’s license in the state to the governor. It previously passed the Senate.
The driver’s certificate bill, developed by Gov. Phil Bredesen, would give Tennessee one of the most restrictive driver’s license laws in the nation, prohibiting some legal immigrants and all undocumented immigrants from getting state licenses.
Under the proposal, a new official document called a “certificate of driving” would be issued to state residents who want to drive but cannot prove they are legally in the country.
The certificate would also be issued to legal immigrants here temporarily, such as students and temporary workers, and would expire along with their immigration documents.
The document would be used only for driving and to obtain insurance. The certificate could not be used as official government identification, for example, either to board a plan or to buy a gun.
All other state residents, including legal immigrants here on permanent basis, would continue to receive the current state driver’s license.
If signed into law, SB3430 would take effect July 1.
For bill status, call (615) 741-3511.

4/29/04-A bill before the Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee would restrict who can get a Tennessee driver’s license.
The driver’s certificate bill would give Tennessee one of the most restrictive driver’s license laws in the nation, prohibiting some legal immigrants and all undocumented immigrants from getting state licenses.
Under SB3430, sponsored by Sen. Jerry Cooper, D-Morrison, a new official document called a “certificate of driving” would be issued to state residents who want to drive but cannot prove they are legally in the country.
The certificate also would be issued to legal immigrants here temporarily, such as students and temporary workers, and would expire along with their immigration documents.
The document would be used only for driving and to obtain insurance. The certificate could not be used as official government identification, for example, either to board a plan or to buy a gun.
All other state residents, including legal immigrants here on permanent basis, would continue to receive the current state driver’s license.
For bill status, call (615) 741-3511.