Tennessee Bills

This law expands the Tennessee sex offender registry to include more juvenile offenders who commit rape of a child. Previously, a juvenile had to be at least four years older than the victim to be required to register, but now judges can order registration even if the age gap is smaller. This change applies to cases where the judge decides, based on the specific facts of the case, that the juvenile poses a risk and should be listed on the registry. The law affects judges who make these determinations and the juveniles whose delinquent acts are evaluated under the new rules. It takes effect on July 1, 2024, for acts committed on or after that date.

This bill modifies Tennessee law to reduce the state funding limit for school nurses from $3,000 to $750 per student. The change directly affects school districts that rely on state allocations to hire or support nursing staff. By lowering the maximum allowable funding amount, the legislation reduces the financial resources available for school health services. The act amends specific sections of the state code to reflect this new cap and takes effect immediately upon becoming law.

This bill requires district attorneys in Tennessee to submit an annual report by March 1 detailing their criminal justice statistics, including arrest counts, indictments, case transfers, and court dispositions. The reports must be categorized by specific offenses and made available to the public upon request. Additionally, the Attorney General's office must compile these individual reports into a single statewide summary that is organized uniformly by offense and jurisdiction. This compiled statewide report will be shared with the governor, legislative leaders, and relevant committees to improve transparency and data accessibility.

This bill modifies Tennessee laws to strengthen protections for individuals facing consumer debt lawsuits. It requires creditors to include specific proof of the debt and their authority to collect it when filing a lawsuit, ensuring they can only sue for debts they have verified. Additionally, the law automatically shields up to $2,500 in a person's bank account from being seized to pay a judgment, provided they have not already claimed that specific account for another exemption. These changes apply to general sessions court cases involving personal, family, or household financial obligations.

This bill creates the West Tennessee Regional Utility Authority to manage water and wastewater systems in Tipton County, Tennessee. The new authority is designed to plan, build, operate, and finance these essential services, with the power to enter into agreements with other local governments to join the system. A board of directors will be established to oversee the authority, and the county may transfer existing water or wastewater facilities to the new entity if they choose to do so. The legislation defines various terms related to the authority's operations, including how it can issue bonds and notes to fund its projects. Ultimately, the bill establishes a formal governmental structure to improve regional water and sewage management while leaving the decision to participate in the system to individual municipalities and districts.

This Tennessee bill modifies the local government structure for the Town of Viola by reducing the number of aldermen from five to two, a change that will take effect only if the town's legislative body approves it. The legislation mandates a special election in November 2024 to select the new two aldermen and the mayor, while also updating the rules for filling vacancies and electing other town officials. Additionally, the bill removes an outdated provision related to work houses from the town's governing code. If the town council votes to reject the measure, the proposed changes to the number of aldermen will not be implemented.

This Tennessee law increases the punishment for adults who negligently put a child eight years old or younger at risk of death, serious injury, or harm. Specifically, it changes the charge from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class D felony for the initial act and from a Class D felony to a Class B felony for subsequent or more severe instances of this negligence. The stricter penalties apply only to actions committed on or after July 1, 2024, and the law takes effect immediately to address public welfare concerns.

This bill allows local governments in Tennessee to issue special event licenses for alcohol sales even if they do not currently permit on-premise drinking. Under the new rule, a jurisdiction can approve a specific event by having its executive officer or legislative chair sign off on it. This change enables communities to host private parties or gatherings with alcohol without needing a general license to sell drinks on the premises. The law applies to any area that has not previously approved on-premise alcohol sales through a standard permit.

This bill allows law enforcement officers to execute search warrants for medical records or blood alcohol and drug tests anywhere in Tennessee, rather than restricting them to the specific county where the warrant was originally issued. By removing the geographic limitation, the law enables officers to follow legal procedures for obtaining these records and tests across state lines without needing to reissue the warrant in a new location. The change applies to all law enforcement officers within the state and takes effect on July 1, 2024.

This bill amends Tennessee state laws to clarify which vehicles are subject to specific transportation regulations. It explicitly adds "a fire engine converted to a for-hire passenger vehicle" to the list of vehicles that require permits. The change ensures that these modified emergency vehicles are treated the same as other commercial passenger transport options like tractor-pulled wagons. By updating the legal definition, the bill helps regulatory agencies determine which businesses need to obtain and maintain proper operating licenses.

This Tennessee bill updates state laws regarding child sexual exploitation to include computer-generated images created or modified by artificial intelligence. It directly affects legal definitions by expanding what counts as prohibited "material" to cover AI-generated content and by providing a specific definition for artificial intelligence and generative AI systems. The legislation clarifies that these new categories apply regardless of how the images are produced, whether electronically, mechanically, or through other means. Effective July 1, 2024, the changes amend existing statutes to ensure that AI-created imagery is treated under the same legal framework as traditional digital images in cases involving child exploitation.

This bill requires judges in Tennessee who agree to a deferred discipline agreement to sign a sworn statement confirming their consent is voluntary and truthful. The affidavit must specifically list any pending misconduct allegations and be filed with the judicial conduct board after approval. This change aims to create a formal record of the judge's agreement to the disciplinary process.