As Tennessee moves into the new fiscal year on July 1, many Tennessee laws passed by the General Assembly will go into effect. State Senator Paul Bailey (R-Sparta) passed several pieces of legislation to help protect children in schools and to protect the Second Amendment.
On July 1, the laws that will go into effect sponsored and cosponsored by Bailey include:
- The Second Amendment Financial Privacy Act protects financial transaction data associated with firearm and ammunition purchases from being used to conduct mass surveillance of law-abiding Tennesseans. It prohibits financial institutions from requiring the use of a specific merchant category code (MCC) to identify transactions that occur at firearms retailers in the state.
- Increasing availability of School Resource Officers (SROs) by allowing a retired law enforcement officer to be reemployed as a full-time SRO at a Tennessee public school without loss or suspension of the officer’s retirement benefits. The retired law enforcement officer must be a member of the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS) or local retirement fund to be eligible for this new law.
- Keeping firearms away from violent juvenile delinquents by raising the age limit for juveniles convicted of specific crimes to purchase firearms to 25 years of age. This law applies if a juvenile over the age of 14 was convicted of crimes that if committed by an adult would constitute a charge like criminal homicide and aggravated assault.
- Improving the Age Appropriate Materials Act by clarifying obscene materials must be kept from public school libraries. Obscene materials include content that is sexually explicit or excessively violent.
- Protecting the right to carry non-lethal weapons on higher education campuses by clarifying it is not a crime for adults to carry certain non-lethal weapons in most buildings, recreation areas and other facilities on public college campuses. The lawspecifies that non-lethal weapons include pepper spray, a pepper spray gun, pepper gel, mace, an electronic control device, a stun gun or other conducted energy device.
More Laws Effective July 1
Crime / Public Safety
Protecting property owners from squatters – Tennessee lawmakers passed legislation in 2024
to protect Tennessee homeowners from squatters by establishing a clear and expedited removal
process. Squatting is the illegal practice of occupying a property without the owner’s lawful
permission. The new legislation removes the burden from legitimate property owners by
establishing a clear process for law enforcement to restore possession, which can expedite the
removal of illegal occupants to as little as 72 hours. The legislation also clarifies that the sheriff
may arrest the trespassers.
Under previous law, it could take up to two years to remove an illegal squatter and cost a
property owner thousands of dollars in legal fees, lost revenue, and property repairs. Although
squatters have no rights in Tennessee, under previous law a property owner had to initiate a
judicial eviction of the squatters.
Senate Bill 795 / sponsored by Gardenhire, Taylor, Bowling, Lundberg, Niceley, Pody,
Powers, Stevens, Walley, White / Effective date: July 1, 2024 / Public Chapter 1009
Jillian’s Law – As part of a large effort to improve public safety and crack down on crime,
lawmakers approved a new law to require criminal defendants deemed incompetent to stand
trial to be committed to an appropriate treatment facility. The law also requires individuals
deemed incompetent to stand trial to be entered into the National Instant Criminal Background
Check System which serves as a database of people prohibited from buying or owning firearms.
The legislation is a result of the tragic murder of Jillian Ludwig, an 18-year-old Belmont
University freshman who was fatally shot while walking in a Nashville park on Nov. 7, 2023. Her
killer, Shaquille Taylor, was a repeat violent offender who was deemed incompetent to stand
trial for committing aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in April 2023. Because of this
finding, Taylor was released from custody and went on to murder Jillian Ludwig later that year.
Senate Bill 1769 / sponsored by Lundberg, Stevens, Walley, Massey, Reeves, Rose, White
/ Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public Chapter 784
Prioritizing safety when setting bail – Another new measure requires judges to prioritize the
safety of communities when setting bail for defendants. Other factors will still be considered
including: the likelihood of appearing for the court date, nature of offense, and apparent
probability of conviction. Under this legislation, the community will be put first and foremost
when considering bail determinations for those charged with a crime.
Senate Bill 2562 / sponsored by Taylor, Rose, Johnson, Yager, Bowling, Walley / July 1,
2024 / Public Chapter 612
Violation of bond conditions – Lawmakers approved legislation which makes it a Class A
misdemeanor to violate the conditions of a bond release. This change would allow law
enforcement to arrest an individual who is suspected of violating the conditions of their release
instead of having to wait for the district attorney’s office to file a motion and schedule a court
hearing which could take weeks.
Senate Bill 2563 / sponsored by Taylor, Rose, Jackson, White / Effective Date: July 1, 2024
/ Public Chapter 942
Punishing monitor device tampering – A new law passed in 2024 aimed at preventing monitor
device tampering by persons released on probation or parole. The legislation creates a Class B
misdemeanor for any person who knowingly tampers with or removes their court-mandated
monitoring device.
Senate Bill 2654 / sponsored by White / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public Chapter 874
Pretrial monitoring – A new law strengthens Tennessee’s bail laws and improves public safety.
The measure requires defendants charged with a Class A, B, C or D felony to submit to pretrial
monitoring if the magistrate issues conditions of release. Courts must also forfeit bail and may
issue an arrest warrant if a defendant fails to comply with the conditions.
Senate Bill 2566 / sponsored by Taylor, Rose, Johnson, Yager, McNally, Walley, White /
Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public Chapter 1055
Felony offense for repeat misdemeanors – Lawmakers passed legislation this year to continue
to address the issue of persistent crime. A new law creates a Class E felony offense for being a
three to five time repeat offender of 37 different misdemeanor offenses.
After five or more convictions of qualifying misdemeanors in the past ten years, the offender
would be subject to a class E felony charge at the discretion of a judge. A Class E felony is
punishable by up to six years in prison and a fine of up to $3,000.
After three or more convictions of certain repeat violent offenses (domestic assault and child
neglect), the third or subsequent conviction could be raised from a class D misdemeanor to a
class E felony.
Senate Bill 2155 / sponsored by Watson, Gardenhire, Stevens / Effective Date: July 1,
2024 / Public Chapter 987
Inmate sentencing – A new law ensures that an inmate’s actual sentence could not be reduced
with good-time credits. The Tennessee Department of Correction can issue good-time credits
for inmates, but the bill clarifies that these credits can only be used toward release eligibility,
not towards reduction of the actual sentence.
Senate Bill 2044 / sponsored by Lundberg, Rose / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public
Chapter 1038
Dr. Benjamin Mauck Act – Lawmakers passed a law that increases penalties for assault in a
healthcare facility. On July 11, 2023, Dr. Benjamin Mauck was shot point blank three times in his
Collierville medical facility. One week prior, his life had been threatened by the individual who
savagely murdered him. The law enhances the punishment for assault in healthcare facilities to
a Class A misdemeanor and aggravated assault in healthcare facilities to a Class C felony.
Senate Bill 1709 / sponsored by Hensley, Crowe, Niceley, Rose, White / Effective Date:
July 1, 2024 / Public Chapter 928
Back the Blue Act – A new law increases the penalties for assaulting a police officer from a Class
A misdemeanor to a Class E felony. The law also increases the mandatory minimum sentence
from 30 days to 60 days and the fine from $5,000 to $10,000.
Senate Bill 2062 / sponsored by White, Stevens, Pody, Walley, Crowe, Hensley, Lowe,
Niceley, Powers, Rose, Taylor / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public Chapter 976
Increasing penalties for drag racing – A new law increases the penalty for drag racing from a
Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony. This change will give law enforcement the option to
charge a person with either drag racing or reckless driving.
Senate Bill 2710 / sponsored by Taylor, Rose / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public
Chapter 1000
Penalizing false reports of active shooter – Lawmakers passed a law this year to increase
protections against the intentional false reporting of emergencies in Tennessee, often referred
to as “swatting.” The law makes it a Class C felony to knowingly make a false report of an active
shooter and hostage situation in order to draw a large law enforcement response to a specific
location. This legislation expands on previous state law which imposed a Class C felony for
intentionally making a false report regarding a past, present or future bombing or fire.
Senate Bill 2222 / sponsored by Lowe / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public Chapter 794
Threats of violence at schools – A new law strengthens the punishment for threatening to
commit mass violence on school property or at a school-related activity in Tennessee. The law
increases the crime from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony. This law does not pertain to
individuals with an intellectual disability.
Senate Bill 2263 / sponsored by Lundberg, Crowe, Rose, Walley, Yarbro / Effective Date:
July 1, 2024 / Public Chapter 887
DUI enhancements – Lawmakers passed legislation that increases penalties for intoxicated
drivers. The law increases the jail time requirement for drunk drivers from two days to seven
days if their blood alcohol content (BCA) is equal to or higher than .15.
Senate Bill 1055 / sponsored by Rose / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public Chapter 1011
Prohibiting license plate flippers – The General Assembly passed legislation criminalizing
selling, manufacturing, purchasing and possessing license plate flippers. The new law makes it a
Class B misdemeanor to purchase or possess license plate flippers and a Class A misdemeanor
to manufacture, distribute and sell license plate flippers. License plate flippers allow drivers to
switch between their legitimate plate and a blank or expired plate. They are sold in several
physical and online retailers. Concealment of a license plate remains a Class C misdemeanor in
Tennessee. This new law will enhance the penalty for concealing a license plate if a license plate
flipper is involved.
Senate Bill 2585 / sponsored by Taylor, Jackson, Rose / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 /
Public Chapter 870
Increasing punishment for intentionally blocking roads – Republicans passed a bill aimed at
preventing roadways from being illegally blocked in Tennessee. The new law would increase the
penalty for intentionally obstructing roadways or other areas used for transportation from a
Class A misdemeanor to a Class D felony. The law also allows anyone who suffered injury or loss
as a result of the crime to seek compensatory damages through legal action. A Class D felony is
punishable by a minimum of two years in prison and a maximum fine of $5,000.
Senate Bill 2570 / sponsored by Taylor, Rose, Johnson, Yager, Bowling, Gardenhire,
Hensley, Jackson / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public Chapter 958
Stronger penalties for cyberattacks – This year lawmakers passed legislation to continue efforts
to fight cybercrime and protect Tennessean’s online data. The new law adds cyberattacks to
critical infrastructure vandalism crimes, making it a Class C felony.
Senate Bill 2040 / sponsored by Rose, Bowling / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public
Chapter 627
Juvenile Justice
Adult court options for organized juvenile crimes – Legislation aimed at curbing violent crimes
committed by juveniles in Tennessee was approved by the General Assembly this year. The new
law allows local district attorneys and judges to determine if a juvenile age 15 and older should
be transferred to adult criminal court when they are charged with committing or attempting to
commit organized retail crime or theft of a firearm. The legislation addresses a dangerous trend
in which minors are being recruited by adults to steal or break into businesses, homes or cars
because there are fewer consequences for their actions.
Senate Bill 2569 / sponsored by Taylor, Bowling, Jackson, Rose / Effective Date: July 1,
2024 / Public Chapter 635
Parental Accountability Act – Legislation passed in the 2024 session to establish parental
accountability for delinquent children. The Parental Accountability Act gives judges the
discretion to fine parents or guardians, instead of the child, for their child’s delinquent actions
after the first offense. If the parent is unable to pay the fine, community service is an alternative
option. This bill is designed to incentivize parents to pay closer attention to their children.
Senate Bill 2571 / sponsored by Taylor, Rose, Johnson, Yager, Jackson / Effective Date:
July 1, 2024 / Public Chapter 943
Communication between juvenile courts and DCS – To improve communication and
coordination between the Department of Children’s Services (DCS) and the juvenile justice
system, lawmakers passed legislation requiring DCS to notify the juvenile judge of the
committing court when a child in DCS custody is scheduled to be discharged.
Senate Bill 447 / sponsored by Lowe / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public Chapter 611
Keeping firearms away from violent juvenile delinquents – A new law aimed at enhancing
community safety and preventing juvenile offenders from accessing firearms was approved by
the General Assembly this year. It raises the age limit for juveniles convicted of specific crimes to
purchase firearms to 25 years of age. This law applies if a juvenile over the age of 14 was
convicted of crimes that if committed by an adult would constitute a charge like criminal
homicide and aggravated assault.
Senate Bill 2911 / sponsored by Bailey, Akbari, Campbell, Taylor / Effective Date: July 1,
2024 / Public Chapter 973
Courts / Corrections
Stronger penalties for indecent exposure by inmates – A new measure was approved by
lawmakers to address a rampant problem in state prisons of inmates continuously exposing
themselves to correctional officers and other staff members, especially female officers and staff.
The new law enhances the punishment to a Class E felony from a Class A misdemeanor. If
convicted, it would extend the inmate’s sentence by two weeks. If convicted more than once,
the sentences will be served consecutively.
Senate Bill 2337 / sponsored by Yager, Bowling, Jackson, Rose, Walley, White / Effective
Date: July 1, 2024 / Public Chapter 1049
Allowing written fiduciary oath – A new law passed by Tennessee lawmakers allows the court
to waive the requirement of a spoken fiduciary oath. The law makes it permissible, with a
judge’s discretion, for conservators, guardians and fiduciaries to file written fiduciary oaths.
Senate Bill 2227 / Rose, Stevens, Powers / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public Chapter
582
Failure to appear in court – A new law puts individuals who fail to appear in court for a bench
warrant on a federal fugitive database. This law requires individuals charged with a felony or a
Class A or B misdemeanor that is violent or sexual in nature to be put on the database within 10
business days after failing to appear in court.
Senate Bill 2304 / sponsored by Gardenhire, Rose, Walley / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 /
Public Chapter 1048
Illegal Immigration
Strengthened Sanctuary City Ban – This year Republican lawmakers passed a new law to require
all law enforcement in Tennessee to notify the appropriate federal authorities if an individual is
found to be in the country illegally. Under previous state law, notification was authorized but
not required. This legislation builds on action taken in 2018 to ban sanctuary cities in Tennessee,
which ensured that no local government can shield illegal immigrants from state and federal
immigration laws.
Senate Bill 2576 / sponsored by Taylor, Rose, McNally, Bowling, Haile, Hensley, Jackson,
Stevens, White / Effective date: July 1, 2024 / Public Chapter 716
Reporting crimes of illegal immigrants – Two laws passed this year to strengthen the state’s
standing to sue the federal government over the costs of illegal immigrants to Tennessee’s
taxpayers. The bills require reports to be generated detailing the costs incurred by the state
from illegal immigrants who commit criminal offenses in Tennessee.
One measure, Senate Bill 757, requires local law enforcement agencies to verify a detainee’s
citizenship. If the detained person is found to be not lawfully present in the United States, then
the jail must report that illegal immigrant to the District Attorneys General Conference (DAGC).
The other bill, Senate Bill 2158, requires the DAGC to collect and compile data on the cost to
Tennessee taxpayers of illegal immigrants in state custody for criminal offenses. It also requires
the DAGC to collect data from law enforcement agencies on the number of persons not lawfully
present in the United States. The report will be submitted to the Governor and both speakers
of the General Assembly. The budget allocates $383,500 to implement this law and ensure the
DA’s Conference has necessary resources to compile the report.
Senate Bill 757 / sponsored by Haile, Jackson, Hensley, Taylor, Walley, White, Yager,
Crowe / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / transmitted to Governor
Senate Bill 2158 / sponsored by Haile, Yager, Jackson, Stevens, White / Effective Date:
January 1, 2025 / Public Chapter 998
Increasing punishment for illegal immigrants who commit violent crimes – This law allows a
judge to sentence an illegal immigrant to life without parole if convicted of a violent crime or if a
deadly weapon was involved in the offense. It also authorizes the same enhancement for adults
convicted of a violent crime on school property. The arrest of an illegal immigrant and all
subsequent convictions must be reported to the Tennessee Department of Safety and
Homeland Security. The data will be used to help understand the impact of illegal immigration
on Tennessee.
Senate Bill 2770 / sponsored by Bowling, Stevens, Taylor / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 /
Public Chapter 1063
Clarifying immigration status requirements for employment – Lawmakers addressed the
employment of illegal immigrants by passing a law that clarifies acceptable hiring practices for
legal and illegal immigrants. The law specifies that when an employer considers hiring an
immigrant who might be in the process of getting their documentation to work in the country
legally, the employer must consider the immigrant’s legal status at the time he or she is seeking
employment.
Senate Bill 1866 / sponsored by Hensley / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public Chapter
1026
Protecting 2nd Amendment Rights
Second Amendment Financial Privacy Act – This new law protects financial transaction data
associated with firearm and ammunition purchases from being used to conduct mass
surveillance of law-abiding Tennesseans. It prohibits financial institutions from requiring the use
of a specific merchant category code (MCC) to identify transactions that occur at firearms
retailers in the state. These financial institutes include banks and credit card companies. Alleged
violations of the law will be investigated by the Attorney General’s Office and could result in a
civil penalty of up to $10,000.
Senate Bill 2223 / sponsored by Johnson, Haile, Bowling, Crowe, Hensley, Bailey, Jackson,
Niceley, Pody, Rose, Southerland, Stevens, Taylor, Walley, Yager / Effective Date: July 1,
2024 / Public Chapter 773
Protecting Children and Family Values
The Family Rights and Responsibilities Act – Lawmakers approved legislation this year that
explicitly outlines the twelve fundamental rights of parents. These rights include the
responsibilities to make education, healthcare, moral and religious decisions for their child. The
law protects children from being indoctrinated by ideologies contrary to the values taught by
their parents.
This legislation honors the fundamental role moms and dads play in the lives of their children as
lead decision-makers and protectors. It shields families from government overreach by ensuring
a parent’s inherent right to instill personal values, beliefs and cultural practices is preserved.
Senate Bill 2749 / sponsored by Haile, Hensley, Jackson, Lowe, Massey, Stevens, White /
Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public Chapter 1061
Legislation provides additional protections for parental rights in medical decisions – Legislation to prioritize parental rights and further protect Tennessee children from prohibited medical procedures passed the General Assembly this year. Senate Bill 2782 seeks to stop anyone from
knowingly taking a minor across state lines without parental consent in order for the minor to
receive a medical procedure prohibited in Tennessee. Under the legislation, any adult who
recruits, harbors or transports a minor for a restricted medical procedure could be held civilly
liable by the child’s parent or legal guardian under the proposed legislation.
Senate Bill 2782 / sponsored by Bowling, Hensley, Pody / Effective Date July 1, 2024 /
Public Chapter 1064
Improvements to Age Appropriate Materials Act – This law provides more clarity to the Age
Appropriate Materials Act of 2022. It adds that obscene materials must be kept from public
school libraries. Obscene materials include content that is sexually explicit or excessively violent.
The law adds to the existing Age Appropriate Materials Act which was passed in 2022.
Senate Bill 1060 / sponsored by Hensley, Yager, Bailey, Bowling, Crowe, Niceley, Rose /
Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public Chapter 782
Increasing protections from bullying and cyberbullying – The Tennessee General Assembly
passed legislation this year that classifies bullying and cyberbullying as a form of harassment.
This new law enables law enforcement officers to make a report of these incidents and, in the
case of a minor, notify the parent or legal guardian. The legislation helps protect students from
bullying and cyberbullying and the escalation that can come from this type of harassment.
K-12
Improving access to charter school facilities – Legislation passed to ensure public charter school
students have access to the same quality facilities as other public school students. The new law
requires school districts to regularly provide a list of vacant and underutilized properties and
make them available to public charter schools at a fair market value. The change will provide
charter schools with improved access to underutilized and vacant buildings that school districts
are not using.
Senate Bill 135 sponsored by Stevens , Bowling, White / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 /
Public Chapter 923
Empowering parents in their child’s education – Lawmakers passed legislation that empowers
parents to have the final say if they want to hold their child back from the next grade. The new
law allows parents and guardians to hold back their child from the next grade without the
approval of the school board if their child has a learning or behavioral delay.
Senate Bill 1688 / sponsored by Lowe / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public Chapter 829
Expanding CTE class size – To help provide more students with access to career development, a
new law increases class size for CTE courses. Previous class size maximums were 25 students.
This law allows Local Education Agencies (LEAs) to expand CTE class size in grades 6-8 to an
average of 30 and a maximum of 35 students.
Senate Bill 2764 / sponsored by Bowling, Rose / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public
Chapter 712
Improvements to Age Appropriate Materials Act (Repeat from ‘Protecting Children’) – This law
provides more clarity to the Age Appropriate Materials Act of 2022. It adds that obscene
materials must be kept from public school libraries. Obscene materials include content that is
sexually explicit or excessively violent. The law adds to the existing Age Appropriate Materials
Act which was passed in 2022.
Senate Bill 1060 / sponsored by Hensley, Yager, Bailey, Bowling, Crowe, Niceley, Rose /
Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public Chapter 782
Safe school traffic – Legislation passed this year that allows counties to hire employees or use
volunteers to direct vehicles within a marked school zone. Under the new law, anyone who
serves as a traffic director is required to undergo training and use the appropriate safety apparel
and equipment. It also authorizes counties to close roads within certain hours of the day for
easier and safer pickup and dropoff zones.
Senate Bill 2771 / sponsored by Bowling / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public Chapter
948
Full pay for teachers assaulted on the job – Under a new law approved this year, all public and
charter schools are required to pay employees their full salary or average pay and full benefits if
they were physically assaulted on the job and unable to work as a result. There were 1,918
cases of assault and 71 cases of aggravated assault against teachers and staff during the
2022-23 school year, according to the 2024 Tennessee Safe Schools Report.
Senate Bill 1943 / sponsored by Crowe, Powers / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public
Chapter 839
Ensuring well equipped teachers for students – A new law ensures teachers are equipped to
teach certain courses. It requires unlicensed teachers to be issued temporary teaching permits
by the Department of Education Commissioner in order to teach courses that have a required
end of course exam. While it is always preferable to only have qualified teachers with valid
license teaching courses, occasionally districts encounter situations where they need more
flexibility with hard-to-staff teaching positions. This ensures that temporary teaching permits
are used only as a last resort by districts.
Senate Bill 2674 / sponsored by White / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public Chapter 876
Textbook accessibility – This year, lawmakers passed a law ensuring students have reasonable
access to necessary classroom materials. The law requires schools that provide electronic
textbooks and instructional materials to students to also provide a physical copy if the child’s
parent requests it.
Senate Bill 2312 / sponsored by Pody, Crowe, Niceley / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 /
Public Chapter 752
Higher Education
Supreme Court Affirmative Action Ruling – A new law ensures that higher education
institutions in Tennessee are complying with the Supreme Court’s decision to prohibit
affirmative action admission practices. The law states that any audit of a higher education
institution by the Tennessee Comptroller must ensure no Tennessee higher education
institutions are using race as an admissions factor. This law is in response to the Supreme Court
of the United States reversing the discriminatory practice of affirmative action, which allowed
race to be used as a deciding factor in admission to a university.
Senate Bill 2822 / sponsored by Crowe, Bowling, Hensley, Rose / Effective Date: July 1,
2024 / Public Chapter 1067
Additional protections against divisive concepts advances – To continue efforts to combat
viewpoint discrimination in higher education, lawmakers passed legislation this year that
requires public colleges and universities to investigate alleged violations of the state’s divisive
concepts law and report the findings within 10 days. The divisive concepts law, passed in 2022,
stipulates that students or employees at public higher education institutions cannot be
penalized, discriminated against, or adversely treated due to the student’s or employee’s refusal
to endorse divisive concepts. State lawmakers must also be notified if an institution receives
more than 10 reports of violations during a single academic year.
Senate Bill 2501 / sponsored by Hensley, Crowe, Niceley / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 /
Public Chapter 815
School Safety
Assigning SROs to schools – New legislation passed by lawmakers aims to ensure that all schools
have a school resource officer (SRO) on campus to increase the protection and safety of
students and school personnel. Currently, some local boards of education have not entered into
a memorandum of understanding with the local law enforcement agency, meaning that some
schools do not have a SRO. This law will allow the local law enforcement agency to assign a law
enforcement officer to serve as the SRO to a school.
Senate Bill 1715 / sponsored by Hensley, Bowling, Jackson / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 /
Public Chapter 729
Increasing availability of SROs – To help further address the shortage of qualified school
resource officers (SRO), the General Assembly passed legislation to allow a retired law
enforcement officer to be reemployed as a full-time SRO at a Tennessee public school without
loss or suspension of the officer’s retirement benefits. The retired law enforcement officer
must be a member of the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS) or local retirement
fund to be eligible for this new law.
Currently, over 500 Tennessee schools are without a school resource officer (SRO), even though
the state provides grant funding to place an SRO in every Tennessee public school. This new law
aims to minimize the safety risk for these schools by helping fill the shortage of SROs.
Senate Bill 2901 / sponsored by Bailey, Pody, Walley, Powers, Rose, Gardenhire, Haile,
Hensley, Jackson, Lowe, Massey, Southerland, White, Yager / Effective Date: July 1, 2024
/ Public Chapter 918
Threats of violence at schools (Repeat from Public Safety) – A new law strengthens the
punishment for threatening to commit mass violence on school property or at a school-related
activity in Tennessee. The law increases the crime from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E
felony. This law does not pertain to individuals with an intellectual disability.
Senate Bill 2263 / sponsored by Lundberg, Crowe, Rose, Walley, Yarbro / Effective Date:
July 1, 2024 / Public Chapter 887
Threats of violence to another student – Legislation passed the General Assembly this year
gives law enforcement another tool to stop students from threatening violence on school
property. The new law clarifies the definition of school property and adds that students are held
criminally liable for threats of violence communicated to another student. The offense would
result in a Class B Misdemeanor. Previous law only covered threats made by students to
teachers or other faculty.
Loss of driver’s license for juveniles who threaten mass violence – Tennessee will now revoke
the driving privileges for juveniles found to have made a threat of mass violence on school
property or at a school related activity. The new law adds loss of driving privileges or the ability
to obtain a driver’s license for one year to those adjudicated juvenile’s dispositions.
Senate Bill 1664 / sponsored by White / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public Chapter 727
Disclosing students’ criminal histories – To ensure schools are aware of their students’ criminal
histories, lawmakers passed a law to authorize schools to remind parents of their obligation to
disclose to the school if their child is convicted of certain delinquent acts. The law also increases
the penalty for parents or legal guardians who fail to do so from a Class C misdemeanor to Class
B misdemeanor.
Senate Bill 2365 / sponsored by Watson / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public Chapter
721
School emergency alert systems pilot program – This year lawmakers established a grant pilot
program for safety alert systems in Tennessee public schools. The law provides $60,000 annually
to assist local school districts and public charter schools with the installation of rapid response
devices. The systems can pinpoint the exact locations of an emergency and directly notify law
enforcement in situations such as a medical emergency, unauthorized intruder, or other crisis.
The Department of Education will be in charge of administering the grant program and funds
must be awarded to two schools from each of the state’s three grand divisions.
Senate Bill 2156 / sponsored by Johnson, Stevens, Massey / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 /
Public Chapter 994
Increased school bus safety — A new law requires school districts to place a notice on every
school bus stating that unauthorized individuals are not allowed to enter the vehicle. The sign
must also include contact information in case there is an issue. Training for new school bus
drivers and transportation supervisors would also be required to include information about the
law.
Senate Bill 1680 / sponsored by Haile / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public Chapter 548
Protecting right to carry non-lethal weapons on higher education campuses – Legislation to
ensure college students in Tennessee can protect themselves on campus without facing criminal
charges passed the General Assembly this year. The new law clarifies that it is not a crime for
adults to carry certain non-lethal weapons in most buildings, recreation areas and other
facilities on public college campuses. The bill specifies that non-lethal weapons include pepper
spray, a pepper spray gun, pepper gel, mace, an electronic control device, a stun gun or other
conducted energy device.
Senate Bill 1868 / sponsored by Hensley, Bailey, Bowling, Crowe, Jackson, Lowe, Stevens,
White / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public Chapter 791
Smart Heart Act – To improve safety for Tennessee athletes and educate coaches of health and
safety problems that could occur during cardiovascular activity lawmakers passed the Smart
Heart Act this year. The new measure expands upon previous law and requires high schools to
provide automated external defibrillators (AED) accessible to students during school hours and
within 1,000 feet of any athletic student activity. It also adds that the existing program must
include training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), first aid, and the use of an automated
external defibrillator (AED) for all participants. This new law will help keep more students safe
and all students and coaches informed. Previous law only required coaches and athletes to be
educated on cardiac arrest symptoms
Senate Bill 2175 / sponsored by Hensley, Haile, Akbari, Campbell, Crowe, Lamar, Reeves,
Watson / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public Chapter 625
Protecting Victims
Debbie and Marie Domestic Violence Protection Act – To protect victims of domestic violence,
the General Assembly passed legislation that requires certain aggravated domestic violence
suspects to wear GPS monitors if they are released on bond. Under the new law, a GPS service
provider must notify a victim’s cell phone if their alleged attacker is within a certain proximity of
their location. The company is required to notify local law enforcement when a violation of a
defendant’s bond conditions occurred.
The law is named in honor of Debbie Sisco and Marie Varsos. Both women were killed in 2021
by Varsos’ estranged husband Shaun who was out on bond for strangling his wife and
threatening to shoot her a month earlier. There were 61,637 victims of domestic violence
statewide in 2022, according to the most recent data from Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
Senate Bill 1972 / sponsored by Rose / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public Chapter 1033
Lifetime orders of protection – The General Assembly passed legislation this year expanding
eligibility for lifetime orders of protections to include victims of harassment, aggravated stalking
and especially aggravated stalking. In 2021, the General Assembly passed legislation that
allowed victims of violent crime to petition a court for a lifetime order of protection. This
legislation is an extension of that law and prohibits offenders convicted of these offenses from
communicating with their victims for life.
Senate Bill 1699 / sponsored by Rose, Akbari, Bowling, Hensley, Walley, White / Effective
Date: July 1, 2024 / Public Chapter 632
Expungement for human trafficking victims – This year, legislation passed that aims to protect
victims of human trafficking with HIV whose records have been tainted by a conviction of
aggravated prostitution. The new law allows these victims to expunge the aggravated
prostitution conviction from their record. Additionally, the bill removes the requirement for
those convicted of aggravated prostitution to be placed on the Sex Offender Registry. It also
provides a path for the victim’s name to be removed from the SOR list. Being on the Sex
Offender Registry makes it really hard for victims to access jobs, housing and certain
rehabilitation programs. The new law gives victims the chance to take back their lives and
allows them the chance for rehabilitation.
Senate Bill 181 / sponsored by Walley, Jackson, Massey, Yarbro, Akbari, Bowling,
Campbell, Lamar / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public Chapter 545
Criminal Injuries Compensation Act — Lawmakers passed legislation that helps streamline
victims’ ability to obtain compensation for damages brought on by their perpetrators. This law
expands the time frame under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Act for a crime to be
reported by the victim from 48 hours to fifteen days.
The new law provides victims a more reasonable amount of time to report the offenses and
damages against them. The Criminal Injuries Compensation Act provides funds of last resort to
financially assist innocent victims of crime with personal injuries. The law also expands the
amount of documents a victim may submit in order to prove the crime occurred. Previous law
only allowed this provision for victims of human trafficking.
Senate Bill 1416 / sponsored by Rose, Oliver, Campbell, White / Effective Date: July 1,
2024 / Public Chapter 904
Increasing support for victims of child sex trafficking – A new law gives victims of child
commercial sex trafficking more time to file a civil lawsuit against their attacker. The law allows
victims to sue up to 30 years after they turn 18 for any injuries or illnesses that occurred as a
result of the sexual abuse. The law previously gave victims 15 years after they turn 18 to pursue
civil action against an alleged perpetrator.
Senate Bill 1801 / sponsored by Johnson, Yager, Haile, Akbari, Rose, Stevens, Walley,
Campbell, Jackson, Oliver, White / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public Chapter 790
Fighting human trafficking at adult entertainment establishments – A new law requires that all
adult-oriented establishments post the human trafficking hotline number on bathroom doors
and all doors going in and out of the establishment.
Senate Bill 2663 / sponsored by White, Akbari, Kyle, Walley / Effective Date: July 1, 2024
/ Public Chapter 653
Adoption / Foster Care / Children’s Services
Helping relative caregivers with children in their custody – Legislation passed this year that
removes the income limit for the Relative Caregiver Program, which provides stipends to those
who care for children in their family.
Since the program’s inception in 2022, many interested families have not qualified for the
stipend because they were over the income limit. This law allows eligibility for all families. It
also streamlines the court process for a family member to become eligible for the stipend by
allowing eligibility for relative caregivers awarded custody by a court. Previously, a final custody
order from Juvenile Court was required to receive the stipend, which was a burdensome and
lengthy process.
Senate Bill 2071 / sponsored by Johnson, White, Yager / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 /
Public Chapter 574
Foster and Adoptive Parent Protection Act – This law prevents DCS from denying eligibility to
foster or adopt because of religious and moral beliefs. The new protections prohibit the
Department of Children’s Services (DCS) from requiring foster parents to adopt, affirm, or
support any government policy. It also maintains that a child’s best interest is the priority during
placement. It aims to protect religious freedom for existing and prospective foster and adoptive
parents in Tennessee and ensures that the number of foster care homes in Tennessee continues
to grow.
Senate Bill 1738 / sponsored by Rose, Bowling, Haile, Stevens / Effective Date: July 1,
2024 / Public Chapter 677
Parentage fraud restitution – The General Assembly passed legislation that creates a pathway
for restitution for victims of parentage fraud. Under the new law, in the event that a person is
convicted of falsely leading a person into believing they are the biological parent of a child, then
the judge or jury must ascertain the value of any child support paid by the victim in reliance
upon the parentage fraud. The court will also order the defendant to pay the victim restitution
of that value of child support.
Senate Bill 2551 / sponsored by Lundberg / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public Chapter
896
Crimes Against Children / Child and Domestic Abuse
Death penalty for child rapists – Under a new law, the death penalty could be on the table in
cases of child rape. The measure increases the penalty for rape or aggravated rape of a child to
death, life in prison without the possibility of parole, or life in prison. Previous law classified the
offense as a Class A felony punishable as either a Range III offense, which carries a sentence of
40-60 years in prison or a Range II offense of 25-40 years in prison. Child rape is one of the
worst crimes imaginable, and there are times life imprisonment for the rapist does not go far
enough. This legislation gives courts the ability to go after the most severe offenders of child
rape with the most severe punishment.
Senate Bill 1834 / sponsored by Johnson, Yager, Haile, Bowling, Stevens / Effective Date:
July 1, 2024 / Public Chapter 951
Increasing penalty for child rape – The General Assembly passed another new law this year that
increases penalties for certain child rape offenses. Under previous law, a person can only be
charged with a violent juvenile offense for rape if the child is four years younger than the
offender. The new law adds that individuals can be charged with a violent juvenile offense for
rape if the age difference between them and the child is less than four years, at the judge’s
discretion.
Senate Bill 2696 / sponsored by Southerland, Bowling / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 /
Public Chapter 888
Protecting children from continuous sexual abuse – Lawmakers passed a measure which adds
continuous sexual abuse of a child to the list of offenses that require community supervision for
life. Under the new law, a person convicted of continuous sexual abuse of a child must serve the
entirety of their sentence, which averages 24 years.
Senate Bill 287 / sponsored by Haile, Jackson, Massey, Stevens, Rose / July 1, 2024 /
Public Chapter 525
Expanding child endangerment offenses – Under a new law, parents and guardians are subject
to a Class A misdemeanor offense for knowingly leaving a child in the care or supervision of a
person who is a registered sex offender.
Senate Bill 1587 / sponsored by Haile / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public Chapter 952
Protecting children from abusers – This year, legislation passed to ensure a child cannot be in a
home where there is a history of child abuse. The law holds caregivers, parents or guardians
accountable to protect the child from abuse by other individuals in the home.
Senate Bill 2070 / sponsored by Johnson, Taylor, Haile, Rose, Walley / Effective Date: July
1, 2024 / Public Chapter 613
Increased penalties for child endangerment – Tennessee lawmakers are actively working to
prevent children from being knowingly endangered by an adult. A new law passed this year
creates a higher offense for any adult who knowingly endangers a child. The measure increases
the charge from a Class D felony to a Class B felony for anyone who negligently places a child
eight years old or younger in imminent danger of death, injury or physical or mental
impairment.
Senate Bill 2662 / sponsored by White, Rose / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public
Chapter 885
Dependent and neglected child – A new law clarifies that the definition of a dependent and
neglected child means a child at the time of the filing of the petition. A dependent and
neglected child petition can be filed by a person or agency other than the Department of
Children’s services.
Senate Bill 2349 / sponsored by Haile, Rose / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public Chapter
862
Cracked down on child pornography – To ensure Tennessee laws against child pornography
apply to AI-generated images, legislation passed which adds AI-generated images to a
punishable offense under the state’s laws dealing with sexual exploitation of children. Advances
in technology have made it easier for perpetrators to create and distribute realistic-looking
images and videos of minors, blurring the lines between real and fake content.
Senate Bill 2668 / sponsored by White , Bowling, Lowe, Rose, Stevens / Effective Date:
July 1, 2024 / Public Chapter 911
Prioritizing autopsies for children – A new law passed this year instructs the Department of
Children’s Services (DCS) and county and chief medical examiners to create policies prioritizing
the autopsies of children involved in active investigations by DCS. The legislation pertains to
issues uncovered by the Second Look Commission when trying to look at the most heinous
deaths against children. The Commission looks at the autopsies to help investigate and close
cases, and some of the autopsies have taken up to 3.5 years to be completed. The new measure
ensures that the cases are prioritized so they can be closed and resolved quicker.
Senate Bill 2929 / sponsored by Powers, Rose, White / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 /
Public Chapter 881
Elderly and Vulnerable Adults
Encouraging reports of elder abuse – To help the fight elder abuse, lawmakers passed legislation
requiring district attorneys to provide confidentiality for those who report information
regarding elder abuse. Under the law, those who come forward can still be interviewed, but
their identity will be protected. The legislation also clarifies these individuals’ information must
be reported to the district attorney from adult protective services. This will help DAs go after
abusers by encouraging citizens with knowledge of abuse to come forward.
Senate Bill 163 / sponsored by Walley, Crow, Niceley / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public
Chapter 655
Increasing access to wheelchair repairs – Tennessee lawmakers passed legislation this year
ensuring that simple, non-clinical repairs can be made independently to wheelchairs without
voiding its warranty. The law also allows for annual preventative maintenance visits to be
conducted by a wheelchair supplier. Previously, wheelchair repairs were required to be
performed by an authorized technician with their supplier, or the warranty could be voided. The
process could be time-consuming and prevent users from going to work or being out in the
community.
Senate Bill 2368 / sponsored by Watson, Akbari, Yager, Massey / Effective Date: July 1,
2024 / Public Chapter 1050
Protecting Life
Penalties for abortion trafficking – A new law makes abortion trafficking of a minor a Class A
misdemeanor. The law protects parental rights and stops adults who attempt to circumvent the
state’s current abortion law by helping to facilitate an abortion for a minor without parental
consent.
Senate Bill 1971 / sponsored by Rose, Haile, Pody / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public
Chapter 1032
Health
CON reform to increase health care access, lower costs – A new law gradually phases out the
Certificate of Need (CON) permit requirements needed to provide nearly a dozen various health
care services in the state during the next five years. The Tennessee Health Facilities Commission
currently regulates the healthcare industry statewide through the CON program. That process
requires a permit to be issued for the establishment or modification of a health care institution,
facility or service at a designated location.
The timeline for removal of CON permit requirements is as follows:
● July 1, 2025: Freestanding emergency departments not located within 10 miles of a
competing acute care hospital or other freestanding emergency department would no
longer need a CON. Additionally, any county without an actively licensed acute care
hospital would also not require a CON for any services except rehabilitation hospitals,
home health agencies, hospice, methadone clinics and nursing homes.
● Dec. 1, 2025: Intellectual disability institutional habilitation facilities, burn units,
neonatal intensive care units, magnetic resonance imaging services and positron
emission tomography
● Dec. 1, 2027: Ambulatory surgical treatment centers, linear accelerator procedures and
long-term care hospitals
● Dec. 1, 2029: Open heart surgery
The law requires rehabilitation hospitals, home health agencies, hospices, methadone clinics,
and nursing homes to continue operating under CON in all 95 counties. Cardiac catheterization
services, outpatient diagnostic clinics, acute care hospitals, and organ transplants will remain
under CON in counties that currently have a licensed acute care hospital.
Senate Bill 2009 / sponsored by Reeves, Jackson / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public
Chapter 985
More accessible hospital records for families – Lawmakers passed a law that will grant families
the right to obtain their loved ones medical records from a hospital or other licensed health
care facility in the state without the need for legal intervention. This law is specifically applicable
in cases where there is no authorized representative after the death of a family member.
Previous Tennessee law mandates that hospital records of deceased patients can only be
accessed by their authorized representative appointed by a court. The law acknowledges the
importance of familial relationships and the need for compassionate access to healthcare
information after the passing of a loved one.
Senate Bill 1779 / sponsored by Swan / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public Chapter 739
Newborn screenings for rare genetic disorders – Tennessee lawmakers passed legislation this
session ensuring new diseases are reported from the Recommended Uniform Screening Panel
(RUSP) within three years for newborn screenings. The Recommended Uniform Screening Panel
(RUSP) is a list of conditions that should be tested for during the newborn screening.
Oftentimes, it takes years for new diseases to be added to this list. This legislation ensures a
quicker timeline for reporting these rare genetic disorders and diseases.
Senate Bill 1791 / sponsored by Massey, Yarbro / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public
Chapter 768
Increasing access to life-changing testing for children with rare disorders – A new law allows
TennCare to cover medical expenses for genetic testing to identify treatments for children with
rare diseases. According to the National Organization for Rare Disorders, over 7,000 such
conditions exist, predominantly affecting children, with 80% stemming from genetic origins. The
law offers hope to families by easing the financial burdens of identifying and treating a rare
disease. It would allow parents to access testing that could streamline the diagnosis process and
potentially save a child’s life.
Senate Bill 1762 / sponsored by Briggs, Swann, Campbell / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 /
Public Chapter 1020
Dr. Benjamin Mauck Act (Repeat from Public Safety) – Lawmakers passed a law that increases
penalties for assault in a healthcare facility. On July 11, 2023, Dr. Benjamin Mauck was shot
point blank three times in his Collierville medical facility. One week prior, his life had been
threatened by the individual who savagely murdered him. The law enhances the punishment for
assault in healthcare facilities to a Class A misdemeanor and aggravated assault in healthcare
facilities to a Class C felony.
Senate Bill 1709 / sponsored by Hensley, Crowe, Niceley, Rose, White / Effective Date:
July 1, 2024 / Public Chapter 928
Smart Heart Act (repeat from School Safety) – To improve safety for Tennessee athletes and
educate coaches of health and safety problems that could occur during cardiovascular activity
lawmakers passed the Smart Heart Act this year. The new measure expands upon previous law
and requires high schools to provide automated external defibrillators (AED) accessible to
students during school hours and within 1,000 feet of any athletic student activity. It also adds
that the existing program must include training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), first aid,
and the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) for all participants. This new law will
help keep more students safe and all students and coaches informed. Previous law only
required coaches and athletes to be educated on cardiac arrest symptoms
Senate Bill 2175 / sponsored by Hensley, Haile, Akbari, Campbell, Crowe, Lamar, Reeves,
Watson / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public Chapter 625
Protecting power of attorney rights in healthcare decisions – Lawmakers passed a law that
ensures those with power of attorney for healthcare decisions cannot be prevented from
visiting the patient in the hospital. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, some hospitals
suspended or revoked a patient’s power of attorney’s right to visit and make healthcare
decisions. Unfortunately, this caused many patients to pass away without being able to say
goodbye to their loved ones. This new law prohibits hospitals from restricting or terminating a
power of attorney’s visiting rights during a state of emergency. Visitors would still be required to
follow safety protocols, but visitors cannot be forced to adhere to any invasive protocols such as
having a vaccination or medical procedure done before entering the hospital.
Senate Bill 1641 / sponsored by Pody, Haile, Hensley, Bowling, Jackson, Yager / Effective
Date: July 1, 2024 / Public Chapter 766
Anti-blocking healthcare information – Lawmakers passed a law that helps prevent information
blocking in Tennessee’s healthcare communities.The law enforces a federal anti-blocking law for
electronic health records.
Senate Bill 2012 sponsored by Reeves / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public Chapter 931
Mental Health
Expanding Mental Health Coverage – Legislation passed this year which expands health
coverage for those in need of mental health services. It requires TennCare to cover mental
health services at the same coverage rate for alcoholism and drug dependent patients.
Senate Bill 2801 / sponsored by Massey, Yager, Walley / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 /
Public Chapter 949
Healthcare Professionals Licensure / Scope of Practice
Scope of practice for physicians assistants – To help delegate physicians’ high workload, the
general assembly approved legislation to expand the scope of practice for physicians assistants.
The new law allows PA’s to perform minor operations without supervision as well as perform
certain tasks with a physician’s oversight.
Senate Bill 2136 / sponsored by Reeves, Stevens / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public
Chapter 1042
Mental health medical practitioners – Lawmakers passed a law that adds licensed professional
counselors, marital and family therapists and clinical pastoral therapists to the list of medical
practitioners in code. This will allow for these mental health specialists to serve more people
across Tennessee.
Senate Bill 2004 / sponsored by Rose, Campbell / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public
Chapter 1025
Physician Assistants Compact – Tennessee has many compacts with other states that allow
certain workers to cross state lines with their licenses and practice in those states and in our
state. Lawmakers passed a law that adds physician assistants to these already existing compacts
by enacting the Physician Assistant (PA) Licensure Compact.
Senate Bill 1727 / sponsored by Jackson, Crowe / Effective Date: July 1, 2025 / Public
Chapter 1018
Dietitian Licensure Compact – A new law creates the Dietitian Licensure Compact. The compact
aims to facilitate the interstate practice of dietetics to improve public access to dietetics services
without the dietitian having to obtain state licensure.
Senate Bill 1862 / sponsored by Haile, Campbell / Effective Date: July 1, 2026 / Public
Chapter 1025
Licensed sleep technicians – A new law passed that addresses the shortage of licensed sleep
technicians in Tennessee where lack of sleep is a significant issue. The law allows a student to
present A-STEP training as a satisfactory requirement for licensure as a polysomnographic
technologist.
Senate Bill 468 / sponsored by Rose / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public Chapter 736
Substance Abuse
Ben Kredich Act – Under a new law, first responders who administer an opioid antagonist such
as Narcan to an individual experiencing a drug overdose may provide information on the risk of
driving within a 24-hour period. The law is named after Ben Kredich who tragically lost his life
after being struck by a driver who fell asleep at the wheel after being administered Narcan in a
hospital earlier that day. The driver was unaware that the drugs causing the overdose would
remain in his system for at least 24 hours, even after the Narcan was administered. The law
aims to clarify that patients who have been treated for a drug overdose with Narcan could still
be impaired and charged with driving under the influence, as drugs would still be present in
their system.
Senate Bill 2116 / sponsored by Massey, Jackson, Rose, Yager, White / Effective Date: July
1, 2024 / Public Chapter 1039
Preventing DUI homicide recidivism – Ledford’s Law was passed this year to reduce the chances
that offenders in DUI homicide cases will reoffend and jeopardize the lives of others on the
road. The law is named after Dustin Ledford who was killed by an intoxicated driver in 2011. The
offender was paroled and subsequently reoffended, almost taking another life. Under the new
law, offenders on parole are now required to undergo substance abuse treatment or behavioral
counseling.
Senate Bill 1583 / sponsored by Lowe / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public Chapter 671
DUI enhancements (Repeat from Public Safety) – Lawmakers passed legislation that increases
penalties for intoxicated drivers. The law increases the jail time requirement for drunk drivers
from two days to seven days if their blood alcohol content (BCA) is equal to or higher than .15.
Senate Bill 1055 / sponsored by Rose / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public Chapter 1011
TennCare Equal coverage for non-opioid medications – This year lawmakers passed a new law
ensuring that individuals have equal access to non-opioid pain medications for effective pain
treatment and management. The law makes sure that non-opioid, FDA approved drugs for pain
are not at a disadvantage compared to opioid or narcotic drugs in terms of coverage for pain
treatment or management on the Prescription Drug List (PDL). Equal coverage for non-opioid
pain medications facilitates access to a broader range of treatment options for individuals
experiencing pain. The legislation also encourages the use of non-opioid pain medications as
safer alternatives to opioids for pain management.
Senate Bill 2011 / sponsored by Reeves, Bowling, Jackson / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 /
Public Chapter 762
Medication-assisted treatment – A new law increases the number of patients a mid-level
physician can treat with Buprenorphine from 50 to 100 patients. Buprenorphine is used in
medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction.
Senate Bill 2019 / sponsored by Reeves, Yarbro, Campbell, Pody, Walley / Effective date:
July 1, 2024 / Public Chapter 808
Tax Cuts / Jobs / Commerce
Tennessee addresses AI Impact on music industry – This year, Tennessee led the nation in
addressing the impact Artificial Intelligence (AI) has had on the music industry. The Ensuring
Likeness Voice and Image Security (ELVIS) Act protects music artists’ voices from the misuse of
AI. The new law updates Tennessee’s Protection of Personal Rights law to include protections
for songwriters, performers, and music industry professionals’ voices. Our music industry
supports more than 61,617 jobs across the state, contributes $5.8 billion to the state’s GDP, and
fills over 4,500 music venues. Tennessee’s previous law protected name, image and likeness, but
not new, personalized generative AI cloning models and services that enable human
impersonation. While the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence is exciting in many ways it
also presents new challenges — especially for singers, songwriters and other music
professionals. It is crucial our laws protect music artists from AI-generated synthetic media
which threatens their unique voices and creative content.
Senate Bill 2096 / sponsored by Johnson, Crowe, Campbell, Akbari, Bailey, Bowling, Haile,
Hensley, Jackson, Reeves, Rose, Stevens, Walley, Yarbro / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 /
Public Chapter 588
Supporting Tennessee’s music industry – Lawmakers passed a law this year that creates the Live
Music and Performance Venue Fund to provide grants for live music performances, venues,
performers and promoters.
Senate Bill 2508 / sponsored by Johnson, Yarbro, Campbell, Akbari, Crowe, Lowe, Oliver,
Stevens / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public Chapter 867
Restricting vehicle booting – A new law prohibits unlicensed individuals from booting vehicles in
Tennessee and caps the fee to remove a boot at $75. This law ensures vehicles are not unfairly
immobilized by overzealous parking attendants. It generally prohibits booting vehicles in
Tennessee, with exceptions for individuals licensed through a local government. Local
governments that choose to allow booting must be responsible for licensing and enforcement
compliant with minimum standards set in the law. It also ensures that vehicle owners are
properly notified if their vehicle is being towed, sold or demolished by a towing company.
Senate Bill 1692 / sponsored by Johnson, Rose, Stevens, Walley / Effective Date: July 1,
2024 / Public Chapter 1017
Protecting Tennesseans from debanking – Debanking for political and religious reasons has
been on the rise and a new law passed this year addresses and prevents discriminatory banking
practices. Under this law, financial institutions and insurers are prohibited from denying or
canceling services to individuals due to political opinions, religious beliefs, social credit scores,
and other factors. The law makes debanking by financial institutions with over $100 billion in
assets an unfair or deceptive practice under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act of 1977,
carrying Class B misdemeanor offenses. No individual should face the loss of banking services or
access to their accounts due to their values or beliefs.
Senate Bill 2148 / sponsored by Johnson, Crowe, Haile, Hensley, Jackson, Niceley,
Stevens, Taylor, Walley, White / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public Chapter 746
Safeguarding Tennessee against digital currency – To protect Tennesseans against the risks of a
centralized digital currency, lawmakers passed legislation that prevents a centralized digital bank
from incorporating a deposit account. Lawmakers also passed a law that will exclude the term
“money” from the definition of “central bank digital currency.”
Senate Bill 479 / sponsored by Stevens, Bowling, Walley / Effective Date: Upon becoming
law / Public Chapter 802
Senate Bill 2219 / sponsored by Powers, Bowling, Walley / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 /
Public Chapter 694
Tennessee leads the nation in trusts – Every year for almost a decade, Tennessee has updated
its trust laws and is now one of the leading trust jurisdictions in the country. A new law makes
various updates to strengthen trust laws to keep Tennessee at the forefront of the country’s
leading trust jurisdictions. The state’s annual efforts to improve trust laws have resulted in new
trust companies coming to Tennessee and increased business opportunities for existing trust
companies. In the past eight years, the total trust assets under management in Tennessee has
increased from $25 billion to $270 billion.
Senate Bill 2256 / sponsored by Stevens / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public Chapter
695
Increasing workforce participation – This session, legislators passed a law that enables
individuals with specific criminal offenses on their record to secure employment opportunities.
The law allows licensing authorities to evaluate candidates’ criminal histories on a case-by-case
basis when determining approval or denial of certain occupational licenses.
Senate Bill 1915 / sponsored by Niceley, Yager / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public
Chapter 788
Ensuring compensation for workers – To help protect workers against unreasonable refusal for
compensation, lawmakers passed a law that will ensure workers are compensated for all hours
worked. The law requires causes of action for all compensation owed to employees within three
years. These actions include: breach of contract, unjust enrichment/quantum merit for unpaid
wages for hours worked, overtime, minimum wage, salary, bonuses, commissions, and other
compensation.
Senate Bill 2017 / sponsored by Reeves, Stevens / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public
Chapter 747
Temporary No-Wake Zones – A new law increases the safety of workers trying to make repairs
around bodies of water in Tennessee. The law grants the executive director of the Tennessee
Wildlife Resources Agency the authority to declare a special, temporary no-wake zone in very
limited circumstances.
Senate Bill 2046 / sponsored by Stevens / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public Chapter
845
Certified engineers – A new law will allow more qualified professionals to become certified
engineers to be placed in the high-demand work field. The law allows graduates of unaccredited
engineering technology programs to become a certified engineer if certain requirements are
met.
Senate Bill 2498 / sponsored by Powers, Bowling / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public
Chapter 706
Social Work Licensure Compact – To increase access to quality social workers, a new law
establishes the Social Work Licensure Compact. The law seeks to enable social workers who are
qualified to work in other states participating in the compact to work in Tennessee. Two other
states have also ratified the Compact. This law puts the framework in place for the compact to
go into effect when seven states ratify the Compact.
Senate Bill 2134 / sponsored by Walley, Briggs, Swann, Massey, Kyle, Jackson, Yarbro,
Akbari, Campbell, Lamar, Yager / Effective Date July 1, 2024 / Public Chapter 1041
Local Government / Rural Communities
Resilient Tennessee Revolving Loan Fund Act – This new act will help local governments
mitigate risks from natural disasters. The law authorizes Tennessee to receive federal funds via
the STORM Act, which was passed by Congress in 2021. The STORM Act allows eligible states to
receive a loan fund for hazard mitigation assistance to reduce risks from natural hazards and
disasters. The funds can be used to help local governments and rural counties prepare for
natural disasters.
Senate Bill 2082 / sponsored by Johnson, Walley, Yager / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 /
Public Chapter 686
Offsetting costs for county jails – A new law reimburses county jails for the costs of providing
HIV medications for inmates. Under the new law, the state Department of Correction is required
to pay for HIV medications for inmates committed to a county jail or workhouse who previously
received prescription medication to treat HIV or AIDS through a state department, agency, or
program, such as TennCare. These medications can run up to $7,000 per month for each
affected inmate, which can have a severe impact on budgets for county jails.
Senate Bill 1771 / sponsored by Lundberg, Yager, Stevens / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 /
Public Chapter 999
Helping rural utility operations – A new measure allows counties a one-year reprieve of paying
depreciation after utility installation, and still keeps the municipality in compliance with
accounting standards. This law will help rural counties with utility depreciation. Many rural
counties cannot afford to accept block grants because the state’s expectations of depreciation
prevent rural municipalities from upgrading their utility systems. Under previous law, the
municipality was responsible for paying depreciation immediately, which was costly and
burdensome.
Senate Bill 129 / sponsored by Walley, Yager, Jackson, Stevens / Effective Date: July 1,
2024 / Public Chapter 1004
TWRA grants for Marinas – In 2022, lawmakers established a grant program for marinas to
address public infrastructure costs. The program was funded through gasoline tax revenue and
administered by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA). This year, a new law passed
allowing these grants to be administered based on the amount of gasoline sold. It also will
ensure that a minimum of twenty-five marinas receive a grant, ensuring that regardless of size,
all marinas can participate in the grant program.
Senate Bill 2324 / sponsored by Yager, Walley, Bowling / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 /
Public Chapter 660
Hardship licenses – The General Assembly passed a law easing the hardship license application
process for rural Tennesseans. The law allows Tennesseans who live at least 30 miles from a
driver services center to complete classroom training online for a Class H or hardship license.
Senate Bill 2356 / sponsored by Yager, Jackson / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public
Chapter 698
Preventing conflicts of interest – A new law requires members of a county legislative body to
record any potential conflicts of interest before a vote on a measure is taken.
Senate Bill 2548 / sponsored by Swann / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public Chapter 798
Government Efficiency / Operations
Tennessee Disability and Aging Act – A new law passed this year by the Tennessee General
Assembly that merges the Tennessee Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
(DIDD) and Commission on Aging and Disability (TCAD) into a new cabinet-level agency called
the Department of Disability and Aging (DDA). Adults 65 years and older are the fastest-growing
demographic in Tennessee. With an increasing aging population, this move will help the state
serve the needs of older adults. TCAD is Tennessee’s federally designated “state unit on aging,”
currently overseeing Older Americans Act programs and providing leadership relative to aging
issues throughout state government.
Senate Bill 2098 / sponsored by Johnson, Massey, Yager, Crowe, Jackson, Niceley, Reeves,
Rose, Walley / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public Chapter 688
Expediting Construction Timelines – Lawmakers passed a law that expedites construction
timelines for Tennessean homeowners. The law mandates fire marshals to conduct inspections
within 10 business days of receiving inspection requests.
Senate Bill 1735 / sponsored by Rose / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public Chapter 1019
Agriculture / Conservation / Property Rights
Protecting property owners from squatters (Repeat from Public Safety) – Tennessee lawmakers
passed legislation in 2024 to protect Tennessee homeowners from squatters by establishing a
clear and expedited removal process. Squatting is the illegal practice of occupying a property
without the owner’s lawful permission. The new legislation removes the burden from legitimate
property owners by establishing a clear process for law enforcement to restore possession,
which can expedite the removal of illegal occupants to as little as 72 hours. The legislation also
clarifies that the sheriff may arrest the trespassers.
Under previous law, it could take up to two years to remove an illegal squatter and cost a
property owner thousands of dollars in legal fees, lost revenue, and property repairs. Although
squatters have no rights in Tennessee, under previous law a property owner had to initiate a
judicial eviction of the squatters.
Senate Bill 795 / sponsored by Gardenhire, Taylor, Bowling, Lundberg, Niceley, Pody,
Powers, Stevens, Walley, White / Effective date: July 1, 2024 / Public Chapter 1009
Property rights – Under a new law, Tennesseans can now take legal action against a local
government that implements or seeks to implement prohibited property right restrictions. The
law expands on legislation approved last year preventing political subdivisions from crafting
policies that deliberately or inadvertently restrict private property rights without due process.
Senate Bill 2743 / sponsored by Niceley, Lowe / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public
Chapter 877
Safeguarding homeowners – A new law helps shield homeowners from the threat of foreclosure
by Homeowners Associations (HOAs). Under the new law, HOA’s will not be permitted to
foreclose on a resident’s home for their failure to pay fees associated with nonessential
amenities. This measure ensures that homeowners are protected from disproportionate
consequences for financial challenges related to optional community features.
Senate Bill 2150 / sponsored by Johnson / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public Chapter
691
Investigations of property – A new law requires local law enforcement agencies to be notified
before a person enters an area to investigate suspected animal cruelty. The law would also
ensure state or local employees have probable cause prior to entering private property or an
animal facility. Law enforcement will also have to be notified prior to an arrest being made for
alleged cruelty to non-livestock animals.
Senate Bill 2478 / sponsored by Hensley, Walley / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public
Chapter 704
Preserving wildlife management – Tennessee lawmakers passed a new law clarifying that
hunting, fishing and conservation are the preferred methods of wildlife management in
Tennessee. The law also requires appointees to the Fish and Wildlife Commission to be active
participants in activities regulated by the commission. This law proactively prevents issues
hunters in other states are facing.
Senate Bill 2039 / sponsored by Rose, Lowe / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public Chapter
626
The Atmosphere Protection Act – The General Assembly passed legislation this year that will
protect Tennessee’s atmosphere from the federal government’s efforts to conduct
geoengineering experiments. These experiments intentionally disperse chemicals into the
atmosphere and the risk to the public health and welfare is unknown. Specifically, the
legislation prohibits the intentional injection, release or dispersion by any means of chemicals,
chemical compounds, substances or apparatus within the borders of this state into the
atmosphere with the purpose of affecting temperature, weather or the intensity of the sunlight.
The prohibition of these practices will help protect all Tennesseans.
Senate Bill 2691 / sponsored by Southerland, Crowe, Bowling, Haile, Pody, Walley /
Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public Chapter 709
Beekeeper protections – A bill to increase protections for beekeepers in Tennessee passed the
General Assembly this year. This law makes it a Class C felony to take control of bees and
beekeeping equipment without the owner’s consent.
Senate Bill 2650 / sponsored by Niceley / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public Chapter 708
Law Enforcement
Warrantless drone use by law enforcement – Legislators passed a law that allows law
enforcement to continue using drones for searches and evidence collection in cases of natural
disaster emergencies, criminal investigations and for certain security purposes without needing
court approval. In 2021 lawmakers passed legislation that expanded warrantless use of drones
by law enforcement until July 1, 2024. This new law makes that expansion permanent.
Senate Bill 1645 / sponsored by Massey, Jackson, Yager / Effective Date: Upon becoming
law / Public Chapter 524
Back the Blue Act (repeat from ‘Public Safety’) – A new law increases the penalties for
assaulting a police officer from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony. The law also increases
the mandatory minimum sentence from 30 days to 60 days and the fine from $5,000 to
$10,000.
Senate Bill 2062 / sponsored by White, Stevens, Pody, Walley, Crowe, Hensley, Lowe,
Niceley, Powers, Rose, Taylor / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public Chapter 976
Official State Symbols and Designations
Designating 10 State Books – Tennessee has many official state symbols ranging from flowers to
songs. This year lawmakers designated 10 different books – written largely by Tennessee
authors – as official state books. The books center around the history of the United States,
democracy and Tennessee culture. Among the proposed state books are All the King’s Men by
Tennessean Robert Penn Warren; The Civil War: A Narrative by renowned historian from
Memphis Shelby Foote; Coat of Many Colors by Dolly Parton; and the Aitken Bible which was
the first first English Bible printed in America in 1782.
Senate Bill 1822 / sponsored by Rose, Bowling, Bailey, Crowe, Niceley, Southerland,
White / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public Chapter 720
Other
Improving safety at campgrounds – Legislation was approved this year to help protect families
at campgrounds. The new law requires campground owners to clearly inform visitors of all rules
regarding curfew, alcohol use, tobacco use, pets. To ensure proper notice of the rules, policies
must be posted in high traffic areas or another method of notification for campers. The law also
requires campsite owners to remove anyone who violates these rules from the premises and
notify law enforcement.
Senate Bill 2918 / sponsored by Bailey, Bowling / Effective Date: July 1, 2024 / Public
Chapter 665
Requiring carbon monoxide detectors in daycares – To ensure the safety of children in
childcare facilities across Tennessee, lawmakers passed a law that requires childcare facilities to
have carbon monoxide detectors installed in every room. The law follows an incident at a
childcare facility that resulted in the building being evacuated due to high carbon monoxide
levels. The facility did not have carbon monoxide detectors and many children were exposed to
dangerous levels of carbon monoxide. The law will help prevent similar incidents in the future
and ensure children do not suffer the long-term effects of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Senate Bill 2066 / sponsored by Bailey, Oliver, Campbell, White / Effective Date: July 1,
2024 / September 1, 2024 / Public Chapter 733