Motor Vehicle Commission advances fee increases, adds civil-penalty and compliance rules

CHARLES WEST, chairman of the Rules Committee of the Tennessee Motor Vehicle Commission, reported changes to the commission’s rules and moved the package into the formal rulemaking process after a public hearing on March 17 in Nashville.

The package, presented at the rulemaking hearing by Sierra Shepherd, assistant counsel in the Department of Commerce and Insurance, would increase several biennial license fees, add new enforcement and compliance provisions, remove an outdated certified-mail requirement and authorize a 30-day response requirement for communications from the commission. The commission also voted to adopt required procedural attachments — a regulatory flexibility addendum, an impact-on-local-government statement and information for the joint government operations committee — and to forward the rules for the attorney-general and secretary-of-state review required under Tennessee law.

Why it matters: The fee increases are intended to help the commission maintain self-sufficiency; staff estimated additional revenue of $1,574,000 for the combined fiscal years 2026 and 2027. The package also tightens enforcement tools (a civil-penalty rule and factors for assessing fines) and clarifies licensee responsibilities for…