A new bill filed for next year’s session of the Tennessee General Assembly would expand the state’s definition of a “disabled driver” to include expectant mothers who are in their second or third trimester of pregnancy or who have a pregnancy certified as high-risk by a physician.
Tennessee State Representative Gino Bulso (R-Brentwood) filed HB 1457 on Monday.
The bill would change the law to expand on the definition of “disabled driver” under Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-21-102(3) to include “a person who is in the second or third trimester of a pregnancy or who has a pregnancy certified to be high risk by the person’s physician.”
Currently, the law only recognizes people with severe mobility impairments, very poor vision, or certain mobility-limiting conditions treated through Christian Science prayer as disabled drivers.
Disabled drivers in Tennessee are eligible for specially designed license plates and parking placards, with some eligible for free plates or placards depending on the nature of their disability, such as permanent wheelchair use. They may also receive distinctive decals for certain vehicle plates, and placards can be permanent or temporary based on the duration of the disability.
Bulso said expectant mothers who meet the requirements laid out in his bill would receive temporary disabled parking permits to utilize accessible parking spaces.
“Expectant mothers often experience mobility issues and other side effects that can make daily tasks physically demanding. This legislation recognizes the importance of welcoming new life into the world by helping alleviate some of the hardships associated with pregnancy,” Bulso said in a statement.
“Strong families are the foundation of our state, and this is an important step in promoting and protecting life in Tennessee,” he added.
Further, noting how “Tennessee ranks among the most pro-life states in the nation,” Bulso said his bill is an example of how Republicans “continue to encourage strong families and protect the most vulnerable in our society.”
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
