.png)
AN ORDER AMENDING EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 15 SUSPENDING
PROVISIONS OF CERTAIN STATUTES AND RULES AND TAKING OTHER
NECESSARY MEASURES IN ORDER TO FACILITATE THE TREATMENT AND
CONTAINMENT OF COVID-19
WHEREAS, on March 19, 2020, I issued Executive Order No. 15, which suspended
certain statutes and rules and took other necessary measures to facilitate the treatment and
containment of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19); and
WHEREAS, taking further measures to limit the opportunities for community spread is
imperative to containing COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, during this state of emergency, the maintenance of a strong and reliable food
supply chain is essential; and
WHEREAS, the inspection and testing requirements for light-duty motor vehicles can
contribute to community spread by requiring close personal contact between drivers and personnel
and by requiring multiple persons to be together in small, enclosed spaces; and
WHEREAS, the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security serves tens of
thousands of customers every month in a variety of transactions that require the type of close
person-to-person contact that contributes to the community spread of COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, on March 24, 2020, as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 emergency, the
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration granted a waiver of certain regulations applicable to
interstate and intrastate commercial driver license and commercial learner permit holders; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 58-2-107(e) and the general
emergency management powers of the Governor under law, the temporary suspension of selected
state laws and rules is necessary to facilitate the response to the current emergency.
NOW THEREFORE, I, Bill Lee, Governor of the State of Tennessee, by virtue of the
power and authority vested in me by the Tennessee Constitution and other applicable law, do
hereby declare that a state of emergency continues to exist in Tennessee and order the following:
Effective immediately, Paragraph No. 14.a of Executive Order No. 15, dated March 19, 2020,
is hereby deleted in its entirety, and the following language is substituted instead:
a. A vehicle must be transporting emergency goods, supplies, equipment, mobile
structures, items related to maintenance of the food supply, disinfectant or
sanitizing supplies of any kind, or other items to affected areas.
Effective immediately, Paragraph No. 15 of Executive Order No. 15, dated March 19, 2020, is
hereby deleted in its entirety, and the following language is substituted instead:
15. In accordance with 49 C.F.R. § 390.23, as adopted by Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs.
1340-06-01-.08, there is hereby provided a temporary exception from the federal
rules and regulations in 49 C.F.R. Part 395 limiting the hours of service for the
operator of a commercial motor vehicle providing supplies, equipment, personnel,
and other provisions, including items related to the maintenance of the food supply
and disinfectant or sanitizing supplies of any kind, to assist persons affected by
COVID-19, subject to the following conditions:
a. Nothing in this Order shall be construed as an exemption from the Commercial
Driver's License requirements in 49 C.F.R. § 383, the financial requirements in
49 C.F.R. § 387, or applicable federal size and weight limitations.
b. No motor carrier operating under the terms of this Order shall require or allow
an ill or fatigued driver to operate a motor vehicle. A driver who notifies a motor
carrier that he or she needs immediate rest shall be given at least ten (10)
consecutive hours off-duty before the driver is required to return to service.
Effective immediately, Paragraph No. 23 of Executive Order No. 15, dated March 19, 2020, is
hereby deleted in its entirety, and the following language is substituted instead:
23. The provisions of Tennessee Code Annotated, Sections 55-50-311, 55-50-336, and
55-50-337, are hereby suspended to the extent necessary to delay the expiration of
all valid Class A, B, C, D, P, and M driver licenses and Class ID photo identification
licenses set to expire between March 12, 2020, and May 18, 2020. Class A, B, C,
PA, PB, and PC licenses shall instead expire on June 30, 2020. Any other licenses
covered by this paragraph shall instead expire six (6) months from the current date
the license is set to expire. This provision shall not apply to Class X licenses.
Effective immediately, Executive Order No. 15, dated March 19, 2020, is amended by adding
the following new paragraphs:
22.1. The provisions of Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1200-03-29-.01 through Tenn. Comp.
R. & Regs. 1200-03-29-.12 and related provisions of Tennessee Code Annotated,
Title 55, are hereby suspended to the extent necessary to suspend the requirement
of inspection and testing of light-duty motor vehicles in Tennessee and the
requirement for a light-duty motor vehicle owner to submit a certificate of
compliance relative to a vehicle's registration in all cases where required between
March 12, 2020, and May 18, 2020. Such requirements shall return to their original
schedule in subsequent years.
23.1. The provisions of Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-50-413, are hereby
suspended to the extent necessary to delay the cancellation of a Class A, B, or C
driver license with a medical card issued for more than ninety (90) days that is set
to expire between March 12, 2020, and May 18, 2020. Class A, B, and C driver
license holders affected by this suspension will have until June 30, 2020, to submit
a new medical card to the Department of Safety and Homeland Security to avoid
cancellation. Renewal requirements shall· return to their original schedule in
subsequent years.
23.2. The provisions of Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-50-304(5)(A), are hereby
suspended to the extent necessary to allow a person who establishes residency in
Tennessee between March 12, 2020, and May 18, 2020, additional time to obtain a
Tennessee driver license. Affected residents shall have thirty (30) days after the
termination of this Order to obtain a Tennessee driver license.
23.3. The provisions of Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-50-302(b), are hereby
suspended to the extent necessary to give the Commissioner of Safety and
Homeland Security the authority to suspend the required administration of
knowledge and skills tests or to reduce the availability of knowledge and skills tests
to applicants for non-commercial driver licenses and learner permits.
23.4. The provisions of Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-50-202, and Tenn. Comp.
R & Regs. 1340-01-13-.24, are hereby suspended to the extent necessary to give
the Commissioner of Safety and Homeland Security the authority to suspend the
issuance of federally compliant REAL-ID licenses.