TN HB1316: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 2-7-112 and Title 55, Chapter 50, relative to licenses.

In one paragraph

Tennessee's HB 1316 (Public Chapter 297) renames the electronic driver license system the digital driver license system and limits its data use. A vendor providing the license app may not capture or retain biometric identifiers (retina or iris scans, fingerprints, voiceprints, hand or face geometry) except a photograph used solely to compare with the license photo on file, and neither the vendor nor the Department of Safety may collect geolocation data. Data from using a digital license may be kept no more than three days and not sold. Digital licenses cannot be used as voter ID. Signed April 24, 2025 (Public Chapter 297); effective on signing.

Plain-English summary, written with AI assistance. The official text controls.

What it means for business

Vendors of Tennessee's digital driver license app may capture no biometric identifier except a photo to match the license photo, no geolocation, and may not sell or reuse user data. Businesses may not require a digital license or favor its users, and may keep its data at most three days.

Key provisions

1. 1A vendor providing a mobile app or other method for the digital driver license system may not capture or retain a biometric identifier (retina or iris scan, fingerprint, voiceprint, or record of hand or face geometry) unless it is capturing a photograph solely to compare it with the license photograph on file to confirm the applicant is the license holder
2. 2Neither the Department of Safety nor its vendor may capture or retain geolocation data (IP addresses or other device-location information) for the digital driver license system
3. 3Data obtained from the use of a digital driver license may be kept only as long as needed to confirm the information is accurate, never more than three calendar days, and may be given only to law enforcement, a government entity entitled to it, or under a court subpoena
4. 4Data, including photographs, given to the vendor is the person's personally identifiable information and may not be sold, redisclosed or otherwise used except as allowed above; neither the department nor a vendor may charge a fee to participate
5. 5No one is required to use a digital license, and no private or public entity may require it or give preferential service based on its use
6. 6Only a physical driver license or ID card counts as voter identification; a digital license must be disabled on suspension, cancellation or revocation and removed from the device within 20 days if the license is not restored
7. 7House Bill 1316 itself became the Public Chapter: passed the House 83-7 as amended (April 7, 2025) and the Senate 27-1 (April 10, 2025, substituted for SB 1297); signed April 24, 2025 (Public Chapter 297); effective on becoming law

Latest legislative action

Apr 28, 2025. Pub. Ch. 297 (signed by the Governor April 24, 2025)

Sponsors (showing 5 of 8)

Roll call votes (showing 3 of 4)

Amendments (1)

• HA0118 Not adopted 2025-03-19