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HB 1457

Motor Vehicles - As enacted, authorizes, effective January 1, 2027, temporary placards to be issued to a female who has a pregnancy certified to be high risk by her physician. - Amends TCA Title 55, Chapter 21.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Gino Bulso

Tennessee bill expands disabled driver placard eligibility to pregnant individuals in second/third trimester or with high-risk pregnancies, allowing reserved parking access during pregnancy.

Comp. became Pub. Ch. 827
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Bill Summary · HB 1457

Legislative bill overview

HB 1457 expands Tennessee's definition of "disabled driver" to include pregnant individuals in their second or third trimester, or those with physician-certified high-risk pregnancies, making them eligible for disabled driver placards. This allows these individuals to use reserved accessible parking spaces during their pregnancies.

Why is this important

Pregnant individuals, particularly those in late pregnancy or with high-risk conditions, may experience mobility challenges, pain, or medical complications that make walking long distances physically difficult or medically inadvisable. Expanded parking access could reduce physical strain during a temporary but significant period. The bill addresses a gap in current disability accommodations for a vulnerable population during pregnancy.

Potential points of contention

  • Medical vs. disability classification: Some argue pregnancy is a temporary condition, not a disability, and may question whether it meets the philosophical threshold for disabled parking eligibility
  • Placard fraud and abuse: Critics may worry about increased misuse of disabled placards or difficulty verifying high-risk pregnancy status without robust enforcement mechanisms
  • Parking space availability: In areas with limited accessible parking, expanding eligibility could reduce spaces available for individuals with permanent disabilities, creating competition for limited resources
  • Definition clarity: The bill requires physician certification for high-risk pregnancies but may lack specific criteria, potentially creating inconsistency in approvals across different medical providers

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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