Tennessee Code Title 55. Motor and Other Vehicles § 55-4-229

(a) A member of the general assembly, or a former member of the general assembly, who is deemed by this section to have emeritus status after having served in the general assembly eight (8) or more years, upon complying with the title and registration law and upon payment of the regular license fee appropriate to the vehicle's design or use as prescribed in this chapter, plus payment of the additional fee provided for in § 55-4-204, shall be issued a registration plate as provided for in this part.

(b) The design on the Legislator Emeritus special purpose license plates must be distinguishable from the special purpose license plates authorized by § 55-4-220 for members or former members of the general assembly. Additionally, there must be two (2) different design options for eligible current or former members of the general assembly to indicate the member's service in the senate or the house of representatives. A member who is eligible under subsection (a) and who served in each house of the general assembly may choose which plate to be issued. One (1) design must be an image of the state capitol on the left half of the plate with the plate bearing the legend “Senator Emeritus”. The other design must be an image of the state capitol on the left half of the plate with the plate bearing the legend “Representative Emeritus”.

(c) The special purpose license plates shall be delivered to the several county clerks for issuance during each registration renewal period as provided in § 55-4-207, except that the registrar of motor vehicles may make direct issue of the plates to the members or former members upon proper application being made, if the plates can be prepared for direct issuance prior to March 1.

(d) This section shall not be construed to mean that any member or former member shall be prevented from exchanging a regular type plate for one of special design in the course of a given registration year.