Starting July 1, Tennessee will enact more than 170 new laws, ranging from public safety reforms to consumer protections. Here’s a summary of key legislation residents should know about:
New ‘boating and alcohol safety laws’ expand access and improve safety across summer activities. One change allows residents to take the TWRA boating safety exam online, rather than in-person under supervision. This measure is expected to benefit rural Tennesseans and those with inflexible work schedules.
Additionally, the ‘Good Samaritan Law’ has been expanded to include alcohol overdoses. This provides immunity from prosecution for certain alcohol-related misdemeanors when seeking emergency help for oneself or others, particularly aiding underage individuals who might otherwise fear legal consequences. Another law increases accountability for impaired drivers, lowering the blood alcohol concentration threshold for aggravated vehicular offenses from 0.20% to 0.15%.
Several ‘public safety and youth protection’ laws target threats to children and vulnerable communities. Selling hemp-derived THC products like gummies to anyone under 21 now carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 48 hours in jail and a $500 fine. Similarly, exposing a child to fentanyl is now a felony, with harsher penalties if the child is under eight.
To address rising threats of violence, a new law makes it a felony to issue credible mass violence threats, and a misdemeanor to post someone’s personal contact information online with harmful intent. Tennessee also enacted the ‘Peace Act’ to strengthen hate crime statutes and passed legislation to criminalize AI-generated intimate deepfake images.
Tennessee is introducing strict penalties for human smuggling, creating new felony offenses targeting those who harbor, transport, or encourage illegal entry for financial gain with the new ‘criminal justice and human trafficking promotion laws’ aimed at preventing ‘minor prostitution,’ which is now officially considered human trafficking.
‘Consumer and business protections’ will benefit state residents with new protections against unfair billing by telecom providers. If a customer cancels a cable, internet, or phone plan in the first half of a billing cycle, providers can no longer charge for an entire additional period.
Also, mislabeling lab-grown meat as traditional meat now results in a $2,000 fine per violation, and new laws regulate vape sales and product listings.
‘Transportation and driver reform laws’ benefit residents with new traffic laws.
Also, juveniles found guilty of bullying, harassment, or cyberbullying may have their driver’s licenses suspended for a year.
New signage will indicate the presence of family restrooms along Tennessee highways, and it is now a criminal offense to impersonate a ride share driver.
Meanwhile, reforms to Tennessee’s driver reinstatement laws remove harsh penalties for driving on a suspended license, making it easier for individuals to regain legal driving status while still holding them accountable.
‘New civic education and national pride laws’ are part of a long-term initiative leading up to the U.S. Sesquicentennial in 2026, Tennessee will observe three themed months annually starting in 2025: June as ‘Celebration of Life,’ July as ‘Celebration of Liberty,’ and August as the ‘Pursuit of Happiness’ month. These months are designed to instill civic pride and reflect on the founding principles of the nation.
From enhancing public safety to protecting consumers and promoting civic values, Tennessee’s new laws represent a comprehensive effort to respond to emerging challenges across the state.
