The General Assembly on Monday passed legislation easing the hardship license application process for rural Tennesseans.
Senate Bill 2356, sponsored in the House by State Rep. Rusty Grills, R-Newbern, allows Tennesseans who reside 30 miles or further from a driver services center to complete classroom training online for a Class H or hardship license.
“This is a common-sense bill that will help rural Tennesseans, who make up a third of our state’s population,” Grills said. “This bill helps provide timelier and more efficient customer service to citizens by removing the burden of driving long distances to receive classroom training for a hardship license, which is typically spread out over several weekends.”
Hardship licenses are issued to Tennesseans who are 14 years old to operate Class D passenger vehicles and Class M motorcycles in cases of family hardship. To be eligible, applicants have to complete 30 hours of classroom training and 6 hours of driving training.
Senate Bill 2356 passed the Senate on March 11 and the House on Monday. It now heads to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk to be signed into law.
