Bill > HB0359

This bill, by amending Tennessee Code Annotated Title 39 and Title 55, proposes to increase the penalties for driving a vehicle without a valid driver's license. Specifically, a first offense of driving without a license will be elevated from a Class C misdemeanor to a Class B misdemeanor, and a second or subsequent offense within a 10-year period will become a Class A misdemeanor. The bill also clarifies the definition of "serious bodily injury" within a specific section of the law, defining it as bodily injury that involves a substantial risk of death, protracted unconsciousness, extreme physical pain, obvious disfigurement, protracted loss or impairment of a bodily function, or a broken bone. This change aims to strengthen penalties for unlicensed driving and provide a clearer legal definition for severe injuries in certain criminal contexts.