***This is a continuation of the list of new Tennessee laws that ran in the Nov. 7 edition of the Independent***
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 because 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. From Senate Bill 2570, 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. From Senate Bill 2040, Effective Date: July 1, 2024, Public Chapter 627. Increasing protection 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. From Senate Bill 1887, Effective Date: July 1, 2024, Public Chapter 797. 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. From Senate Bill 2770, 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. From Senate Bill 1866, Effective Date: July 1, 2024, Public Chapter 1026.
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. From Senate Bill 2223, Effective Date: July 1, 2024, Public Chapter 773. The Family Rights and Responsibilities Act – Lawmakers approved legislation this year that explicitly outlines the twelve fundamental rights of parents. These rights include the responsibility 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. From Senate Bill 2749, Effective Date: July 1, 2024, Public Chapter 1061. Legislation provides additional protection 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 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. From Senate Bill 2782, 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. From Senate Bill 1060, Effective Date: July 1, 2024, Public Chapter 782.
***See future editions for a continued list of new Tennessee laws***
