Senate Bill 1625 amends various sections of the Tennessee Code Annotated concerning the operation of personal delivery devices. The bill allows these devices to be operated primarily on sidewalks, crosswalks, bicycle lanes, and similar areas, while also establishing that they have the same rights and responsibilities as pedestrians and bicyclists in those respective areas. Additionally, the bill modifies existing language to clarify that local governments can regulate personal delivery devices if deemed necessary for public safety, rather than prohibiting them outright.

Key changes include the deletion of language that allowed for the prohibition of personal delivery devices by local resolutions, which is replaced with the ability to regulate them. The bill also specifies that personal delivery devices may operate at speeds of up to twenty miles per hour in designated areas. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, ensuring that the regulations are in place to govern the safe use of these devices in Tennessee.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 55-8-101, 55-8-209(b), 55-8-209, 55-8-209(e)