Every January 1, new laws are enacted. Three significant areas of focus for this year’s new laws are protection of youth by controlling access to certain internet sites, healthcare, and the service industry. Many are in reaction to the changes that the digital age has brought to society, like the acceptance of digital identification and insurance cards and personal information privacy concerns.
Several of the laws are already under fire by various groups, including those limiting access to pornography and the purchase of agricultural land by residents of certain countries currently considered hostile to the United States.
In the coming years, more laws are sure to be enacted addressing issues related to the digital age including privacy of personal information, mental health and the safety of youth using the internet. Here are the newest laws going into effect in 2025.
Social Media Usage Related Laws Protecting Children
Known as the “Protect Tennessee Minors Act,” this law will require any individual or commercial entity that publishes or distributes a website in Tennessee that contains a substantial portion of material harmful to minors to perform a reasonable age-verification check to verify the age of any individual attempting to access the material. Any violation of this law will be considered a Class C felony that carries a penalty of three to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
The law has been attacked by the Free Speech Coalition. This organization believes that the law violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the Constitution. The First Amendment covers Freedom of Speech, however there are some exceptions, for example speech that is obscene, defamatory, or incites violence is not protected. The Fourteenth Amendment covers rights of citizenship, including that no state can deny equal protection of the law to anyone within its jurisdiction.”
Creating the “Protecting Children from Social Media Act,” this law will require a social media company to provide a minor account holder’s parent with means for the parent to supervise the minor’s account, including options for the parent to view privacy settings on the account, set daily time restrictions, and implement breaks during which the minor cannot access the account. Also, minors must have the consent of parents to become a social media account holder. Consent can be revoked at any time. Also, social media companies are not allowed to retain personal identification of either the parent or child once consent is verified.
Health and Health Insurance Related Laws
This new law requires a health benefit plan that provides coverage for prescription contraceptives, to provide coverage for a 12-month refill of contraceptives obtained at one time by an insured person, unless the insured requests a smaller supply or the prescriber instructs that the insured must receive a smaller supply.
Hospitals and physicians will be required by this law to accept electronic insurance cards as valid proof of an insurance policy, plan, or contract.
The “Prior Authorization Fairness Act” will require that certain notifications must be made if a health insurance provider denies coverage of medications while citing a prior authorization reason.
Specifically, it requires that an “adverse determination regarding a request for prior authorization” must be made by a licensed physician or a healthcare professional with the same or a similar specialty as the healthcare professional requesting the prior authorization.
It mandates appeals for prior authorizations for “non-urgent” cases be completed within seven days, and urgent prior authorization reviews must be completed within 72 hours, plus one additional business day, if applicable.
The ‘Tennessee Wellness Law’ provides statutory protections for physicians seeking to address career fatigue and/or workplace burnout by ensuring that communications between these physicians and their therapists remain confidential.
Exceptions are noted for substance abuse, alcoholism or any condition that might adversely impair their ability to safely and effectively serve their patients.
Initially passed in 2023 with a delayed effective date, this law allows graduate physicians to practice medicine in Tennessee under specific “collaborative practice agreements” serving medically underserved rural areas of the state, rural health clinics or pilot projects.
Graduate physicians are defined as someone who has completed the first two steps in the United States Medical Licensing Examination or its equivalent within two years of their application to be a licensed physician.
Alcohol and Service Industry Related Laws
Makes changes to the law relative to intoxicating liquors and the sale of beer and/or wine to minors. No wine or beer sales or beer shall be made to those under 21. Prior to making a sale of wine for off-premises consumption, the adult consumer must present to the license holder or any employee of the license holder a valid, government-issued document, such as a driver license or other form of identification deemed acceptable to the license holder, that includes the photograph and birth date of the adult consumer attempting to make a wine or beer purchase, which according to the new law may be electronic. Also, no sale can be made without appropriate identification. The exception being that no criminal punishment or adverse administrative action, including license suspension or revocation, will occur if the sale was made to a person who is or reasonably appears to be over fifty years of age and who failed to present an acceptable form of identification.
Those working in a bar, restaurant or other venue serving alcohol, wine or beer that requires a server permit must successfully complete a program of alcohol awareness training. This law requires that the curriculum include training on the role of alcohol in sexual assault and harassment and on recognizing and reporting signs of human trafficking. It authorizes certain reciprocity with similar programs in other states.
Additional Laws
This law adds hydrogen gas to the definition of alternative fuel for the purposes of fuel tax law, subjecting hydrogen gas to the compressed natural gas tax, but exempting it from sales and use tax.
Law enforcement officers and firefighters eligible for hazard duty retirement benefits will be eligible for these benefits either when they retire, or when they reach 60 years of age. The hazardous duty benefit is added to their retirement allowance as long as they have served at least 20 years and do not retire due to a disability.
Landlords will be required to tell potential tenants the name and address of property management agencies that operate homes according to this new law. Tenants will also have to receive in writing the names and addresses of owners of premises, or people authorized to act on their behalf. Tenants must also get either an email or telephone number for maintenance services or an online portal system where they can communicate with landlords.
This law makes revisions to current laws relevant to juvenile courts and their proceedings.
Revisions to provisions related to the special account in the general fund known as the “pre-need funeral account” are enacted by this law.
Blocking Foreign Ownership of Agricultural Land
And an additional Tennessee law will begin blocking residents from certain countries from owning agricultural land in the state. These countries include China, Iran, North Korea and other countries falling under International Traffic in Arms Regulations. This includes land used for forestry, timber, ranching or farming purposes. However, land purchased before 2025 will not have to be sold.
Subscribe to our Newsletter!
