House Bill 359 amends Tennessee Code Annotated, specifically Section 55-50-301, to introduce new legal provisions regarding driving-related criminal offenses. The bill establishes that a violation of subdivision (a)(1) will be classified as a Class B misdemeanor for the first offense. However, if an individual commits a second or subsequent violation, it will escalate to a Class A misdemeanor, with the stipulation that any convictions occurring more than ten years prior to the current violation will not be considered for enhancement purposes.

The new subsection (d) clarifies that these classifications do not apply to violations of Section 55-50-351. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and will apply to offenses committed on or after that date, ensuring that the new legal framework is in place for future driving-related offenses.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 55-50-301