Bill > HB1690

This bill significantly strengthens Tennessee's motor vehicle financial responsibility laws, often referred to as the James Lee Atwood Jr. Law, by increasing penalties for non-compliance and limiting damages in civil lawsuits. Specifically, it raises the initial "coverage failure fee" for failing to prove vehicle insurance from $25 to $500, and for a second or subsequent offense within three years, it escalates to a $1,500 fee and mandates the suspension or revocation of the vehicle's registration. Furthermore, the bill introduces a new provision that bars a plaintiff from recovering "noneconomic damages" – which are damages for non-monetary losses like pain and suffering – in a vehicle-related lawsuit if they themselves were not in compliance with the financial responsibility law at the time of the incident, with certain exceptions for egregious defendant conduct. The bill also mandates more frequent reporting of vehicle insurance data by insurers to the state and allows for public awareness campaigns about financial responsibility requirements.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/default.aspx?BillNumber=HB1690&ga=114