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HB 18

TennCare - As introduced, directs the bureau to establish a temporary TennCare benefits program to provide medical assistance on a temporary basis to certain individuals who do not qualify for enrollment in TennCare, CoverKids, or a successor program; requires the bureau to submit a waiver to the federal centers for medicare and medicaid services by December 31, 2025. - Amends TCA Title 71, Chapter 5.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Charlie Baum

HB 18 tightens child passenger restraints (longer rear/forward-facing, booster use) and imposes fines/points; creates a $15-per-violation voucher fund for low-income families.

Failed in Insurance Committee
#tenncare
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Bill Summary · HB 18

Summary — HB 18 (Child Passenger Restraint; Public Safety, Health & Welfare)

Status: Action postponed indefinitely (most recent status provided)
Introduced: February 2025 (reported by Public Safety & Homeland Security committee)
Sponsor (in introduced version): Representative Ron Bolton
Effective date (as drafted): October 1, 2025

Main purpose

HB 18 revises Alabama’s child passenger restraint requirements (ages/weights for car seats and boosters), strengthens enforcement by increasing fines and assigning points for repeat violations, and creates a small fee-funded voucher program to assist low-income families in obtaining appropriate child restraints.

Key provisions

  • Changes required restraint stages and thresholds:
    • Rear-facing infant/convertible seats: until at least 2 years of age or 35 pounds (amends previous 1 year / 20 pounds).
    • Forward-facing convertible seats: until at least 5 years of age or 65 pounds (previously 5 years / 40 pounds).
    • Booster (belt-positioning) seats: required until at least 6 years of age and only removed when the child satisfies five belt-fit conditions (sits back against seat, knees bend at seat edge, shoulder belt between neck/arm, lap belt across upper thighs, able to stay seated for trip).
    • Seat belts for other individuals: up to 15 years of age (draft language indicates belts required until age 15).
    • Recommendation (not mandated) that children under 13 ride in rear seats unless unavoidable.
  • Enforcement & penalties:
    • Court hearing required for any violation (cannot be waived).
    • Fines (per offense, with a five‑year lookback):
    • 1st offense: $25 (may be dismissed upon proof of acquisition of appropriate restraint).
    • 2nd offense: $50.
    • 3rd offense: $100.
    • 4th+ offense: $150.
    • Points for driver monitoring: 1 point for first offense; 2 points for second/subsequent.
  • Fee/voucher program:
    • $15 of each fine to be deposited into a state fund to distribute vouchers for size-appropriate child restraints to low‑income families; administration by Dept. of Public Health.
  • Other:
    • Clarifies this statute does not affect insurance contract coverage.
    • Requires law‑enforcement agencies to collect and report monthly statistical information on traffic stops of minorities related to enforcement of this section.

Who is affected

  • Primary: drivers transporting children (parents, guardians, caregivers).
  • Secondary: law enforcement (enforcement and reporting duties), trial courts (mandatory hearings), Department of Public Health (administer voucher distribution), low-income families (voucher recipients), and motor-vehicle passengers under the specified ages/weights.
  • Exemptions noted for taxis and vehicles with seating capacity of 11+.

Fiscal and administrative impact

  • Fiscal notes (committee estimates) indicate potential increases in state and municipal fine receipts and court-related revenues, but amounts are undetermined and depend on enforcement levels.
  • The voucher program will receive designated funding ($15 per fine) and will require administrative oversight by the Department of Public Health.
  • Courts will hold mandatory hearings for violations; fiscal notes did not forecast a substantial caseload increase but courts would process cases under existing resources.

Procedural/timeline notes

  • Draft designates October 1, 2025 as the effective date.
  • The bill was reported out of the House Public Safety & Homeland Security committee in February 2025, but later procedural records show the measure was postponed indefinitely (action date listed: June 3, 2025), so it is not currently advancing.

If you’d like, I can:
- Produce a side‑by‑side comparison of current law vs. the bill’s changes, or
- Extract exact statutory text changes for submission or briefing materials.

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

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