You may not realize how frequently laws change. Every year, many new laws go into effect on July 1 in Tennessee. This is when the state budget year begins.
As of July 1, 2018, there are more than 150 new laws in the state. Here are what some of the new Tennessee laws do:
- Restrict first-time opioid prescriptions to three-day supplies, except in cases of hospice and cancer treatment, major surgeries and sickle cell disease; this is one of the most aggressive policies regarding opioid prescriptions in the country
- Remove a provision from a law allowing patients with epilepsy to obtain cannabidiol from other states with a prescription
- Make impersonating a veteran or falsely representing the service of a veteran to receive benefits a Class A misdemeanor
- Set new conditions regarding when juveniles can be tried as adults or placed in state custody
- Allow the Tennessee Board of Education to rebuke school directors for failing to report misconduct
- Let individuals show police officers their registration documents via electronic devices during traffic stops
- Permit pharmacists to dispense prescription medications for as much as 20 days to patients displaced by a disaster
- Make it mandatory for judges to issue no-contact orders alongside restraining orders in cases in which perpetrators use weapons or cause severe bodily harm to victims
- Only allow boards to refuse occupational licenses because of certain felonies and past crimes that directly relate to the job in question
- Require new vertical licenses for drivers under the age of 21 to assist in verifying them as underage
As you can see, there is a multitude of new laws covering a wide range of issues. In certain cases, there are new punishments, while in others, you may have new rights. It is important to stay up-to-date on legal procedures and policies in Tennessee every year as new ones go into effect.