By Katie Northcott, News Director
Over 250 new laws will take effect in Tennessee on July 1. Find a complete list of the new laws here.
Find more details about several of the new laws below. Please note that this list is not exhaustive:
Matthew Davenport’s Law
HB1649/SB1656, also known as “Matthew Davenport’s Law”, creates certain criminal offenses and testing requirements related to kratom. Kratom is a stimulant that has an opioid-like effect. The bill is named for Matthew Davenport, a Chattanooga resident who died in 2024 from a lethal interaction between kratom and prescription medications.
Beginning on July 1, possession of kratom will be a Class A misdemeanor. Sale or distribution of kratom will be a felony offense.
Charlie Kirk Act
HB1476/SB1741, also known as the “Charlie Kirk Act”, gives educators additional assurances that they may teach about Christianity’s influence without violating school policy and requires Tennessee colleges and universities to adopt certain free-speech protections.
According to WSMV 4, the following will be prohibited by the bill:
- Refusing to invite a speaker because of the viewpoints expressed or espoused by the speaker or canceling an invitation of the speaker at the institution in response to threatened protests or opposition from students or faculty
- Prohibiting a student organization from inviting a speaker to campus or restricting a student organization in its choice of invited speakers
- Retaliating against a faculty member on account of the viewpoints expressed in the faculty member’s scholarly work, or on account of any speech or writing protected by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution
- Discriminating or retaliating against a person on account of the person’s sincere religious beliefs
- Discriminating or retaliating against a person on account of the person’s opposition to abortion, homosexuality or transgenderism, regardless of whether that opposition is motivated by religious or non-religious beliefs
- Denying recognition to any student group or denying any employer access or on-campus student interviews, on account of the student group’s or employer’s beliefs or opposition as described in prohibitions four and five
Immigration Enforcement
Several bills concerning immigration enforcement are going into effect.
HB2506/SB1464 mandates that certain information concerning enforcement of federal and state immigration laws remain confidential. According to WSMV 4, the name contact information, address, and other personal identifying information of each federal, state, or local officer, agent or official participating in federal immigration enforcement agencies would not be subject to public inspection.
HB1704/SB1779 makes it a Class A misdemeanor to refuse to depart when a final order of removal is outstanding. It also creates a Class A misdemeanor for intentionally entering or attempting to enter Tennessee after being denied admission, excluded, deported or removed from the United States.
HB2018/SB1486 requires certain law enforcement agencies to enter a memorandum of understanding agreeing to accept and honor any immigration detainer from federal immigration authorities. According to WSMV 4, the law applies to sheriffs. The state may withhold funds from any agency that refuses to enter the agreement. Sheriff’s offices may suspend compliance with the agreement if an emergency arises that requires deputies to be redirected to respond to public safety threats.
Grace Anne Sparks Coercive Suicide Prevention Law
According to WSMV 4, HB1951/SB1815, also known as the “Grace Anne Sparks Coercive Suicide Prevention Law”, makes coercive suicide a Class D felony. Coercive suicide occurs when someone intentionally encourages another person to die by suicide or attempt suicide within a certain period of time.
Sparks, a resident of Middle Tennessee, died by suicide at 19 after what Sparks’ mother described as “years of psychological manipulation” by an older man who lived out of state. Sparks began interacting with the man when she was just 12 years old.
More Laws Impacting Schools
HB1273/SB0591 makes it a Class E felony to threaten mass violence on school property or at a school-related activity. The threat is considered credible if it causes another to reasonably expect to commission of an act of mass violence.
HB 1973/SB2106 draws stricter prohibitions on sexual relationships between teachers and students. Educators are prohibited from engaging in sexual behavior with certain students enrolled, graduated, or withdrawn from school.
HB1550/SB1716 allows schools to keep epinephrine on hand and administer it to students.
HB1527/SB1710 requires that kindergarten through twelfth grade students at public schools and public charter schools receive instruction regarding child trafficking awareness and prevention.
HB2393/SB2310 prohibits electronic testing for kindergarten through fifth grade students, restricts K-5 students from accessing digital devices at school, and bars teachers from using digital devices to provide instruction, according to WSMV 4.
