More than 200 new Tennessee laws will take effect on July 1, 2024, addressing a wide range of issues. Here are some notable ones:
- HB 1600: Guns for Certain Juvenile Offenders:
- Juvenile offenders convicted of specific crimes (such as aggravated assault, threats of mass violence, etc.) will be prohibited from owning firearms until they turn 25.
- They can petition the court for firearm rights restoration once they reach 19 years old and meet certain conditions.
- SB 2576: Required Reporting to Federal Immigration Authorities:
- All law enforcement authorities in Tennessee must contact federal immigration officials regarding the immigration status of any individual.
- This includes cooperating with federal authorities in identifying, apprehending, detaining, or removing “aliens not lawfully present” in the U.S.
- SB 1834: Death Penalty for Child Rapists:
- The state can seek the death penalty for those convicted of aggravated rape of a child.
- Juveniles convicted of this offense will be punished as Range II offenders with a minimum sentence of 25 years in prison.
- SB 2668: AI-Generated Images Added to Anti-Child Pornography Laws:
- As AI technology grows, lawmakers have included AI-generated images in the state’s anti-child pornography laws.
- This covers computer images, computer-generated images, and images modified by artificial intelligence.
- HB 1828: Official State Books:
- A list of 10 titles, including presidential papers, plays, biographies, and religious texts, will become official state books in Tennessee.
Sources:
https://www.wkrn.com/news/tennessee-politics/new-tn-laws-july-1-2024/