New Tennessee Laws Going Into Effect On July 1st – Ban On Sex Changes For Minors, Legal Definition Of “Sex”, And More

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The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –

During the last session of the Tennessee General Assembly, legislators passed several new laws that are slated to go into effect on July 1st.

Ban On Sex Changes for Minors (SB0001)

Legislators placed restrictions on “gender affirming” medical care for minors. The bill is not limited only to sex-change operations but includes hormone therapies and other prescription medicines used to attempt to allow minors to alter their biological sex.

Booting Consumer Protection Act

This law makes it a Class B misdemeanor for anyone to place a “boot” – or a vehicle immobilization device – on a vehicle that is parked on private property. It also stipulates that companies who place boots on vehicles must accept debit or credit cards as payment for removal of the device and they are no longer allowed to contract out the work of installing or removing boots.

Dillard’s Law

In cases where a child loses a parent to vehicular homicide, the surviving parent or guardian can choose to have child maintenance payments changed from a restitution order to a civil judgement at any time without having to wait for the defendant’s sentence to end.

Expedition of Death Penalty

After all possible appeals have been exhausted, this new law stipulates that the death penalty must be carried out within 30 days. Juries also have the option of expediting that penalty even further if the case meets certain stipulations.

Garrison-Jordan Survivor Benefits Act

Along with other changes to the current law regarding death benefits for workers’ compensation claims, this legislation also ups the death benefit from 66 2/3% of the deceased’s average weekly salary to 75%.

Immunity From Prosecution For Drug Overdose (SB0256)

According to this law, individuals suffering from an overdose would be immune from being arrested, charged, or prosecuted “at the discretion of the responding law enforcement officer or the district attorney general’s office.”

Jabari Bailey Highway Safety Act

This act updates an existing law regarding a requirement that vehicles move out of the way of stopped emergency vehicles. The new law will cover all “stationary vehicles” that have flashing hazard lights, not just law enforcement vehicles.

Legal Definition of “Sex” (HB0239)

This law provides a legal definition of “sex” to be used in all state codes and statutes. It defines “sex” as “a person’s immutable biological sex.” This definition must be used on all government-issued documents within the state.

Restriction of Piercings and Tattoos for Minors (SB0450)

When this law goes into effect, sale or distribution of tattoo and body piercing paraphernalia would become a Class A misdemeanor. The law also mandates that anyone who participates in the sale of these items must require proof of age from all potential buyers. A $50 penalty will be assessed if the materials are purchased by a minor.

Silas Gable Flatt Law

This legislation makes it a Class A misdemeanor for a person to knowingly provide a vehicle to someone who is intoxicated or who has had their license suspended. The first offense would come with a minimum of 48 hours in jail, with time increasing for subsequent charges.

Student Penalties for Mass Violence Threats

Students could face up to a year of expulsion from school if they make a threat of mass violence. Students who bring a gun on campus, assault school officials, bring drugs on campus, or threaten with mass violence are required to be expelled. School officials are given some leeway as to when these “zero tolerance” policies are enforced.

Tennessee Higher Education Freedom of Expression and Transparency Act

This new legislation restricts colleges and universities from showing favoritism towards or bias against any group that chooses to use peaceful protest or to bring a guest speaker on to campus. Schools cannot require students to pay additional fees that are not charged to all students, and access to school property and facilities must be given equally to all student groups. The law also says that these institutions cannot require applicants to submit a “personal diversity statement” or force them to agree to any “institutional diversity statement” as a condition for admission or employment.

Text and Telephone Solicitation Penalties (SB0868)

Adding to current restrictions on telephone call solicitation, this law states that solicitors may not send text messages between the hours of 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. They are also restricted from blocking a person’s caller ID system, and they cannot contact anyone who has registered on the Do Not Call registry. They are required to pay $500 per year for regulatory expenses and also face a $2000 penalty for each violation of the law.

About the Author: Jason Vaughn, Media Coordinator for The Tennessee Conservative  ~ Jason previously worked for a legacy publishing company based in Crossville, TN in a variety of roles through his career.  Most recently, he served as Deputy Director for their flagship publication. Prior, he was a freelance journalist writing articles that appeared in the Herald Citizen, the Crossville Chronicle and The Oracle among others.  He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor’s in English-Journalism, with minors in Broadcast Journalism and History.  Contact Jason at news@TennesseeConservativeNews.com