December 25, 2018
By: Dwayne Page
As DeKalb Countians prepare to ring in the new year, new state laws will also go into effect on January 1, 2019.
From wine sales in grocery stores to immigration, here are some new laws that will soon go into effect:
SUNDAY WINE SALES
-Retail packaging stores were able to start selling alcoholic beverages on Sunday this year, but retail grocery stores were not included. Starting January 6, grocery stores will be able to sell wine on Sundays between 10 a.m. and 11 p.m.
IMMIGRATION
A new state law will prohibit local and state governmental entities from adopting ‘Sanctuary City’ policies. While local governments had already been regulated by the law, this bill added state government entities to the list along with law enforcement agencies and officials.
Also, any state or local entity which adopts a sanctuary policy will be ineligible to receive state funds until the policy is rescinded.
LEAD IN SCHOOL DRINKING WATER
A new state law was signed by Governor Bill Haslam in May of 2018 and goes into effect January 1. Under the law, each local board of education will have to develop a policy and implement a program to reduce potential sources of lead contamination in drinking water at public schools.
Drinking water at school facilities built before January 1, 1998 will be forced to follow the new guidelines.
ABORTION
A new law will require women seeking an abortion in the state to get an ultrasound as part of their examination prior to the abortion. The person who performs the ultrasound will also need to offer the woman the “opportunity to learn the results of the ultrasound.”
Also, the report of abortion must indicate if a heartbeat was detected or not during the ultrasound.
OPIOIDS
A new law requires the Tennessee Department of Health to establish and maintain a public toll-free telephone line and web-based hotline for citizens to report potential opioid abuse or diversion.
Also, any establishment or entity which prescribes, dispenses, or handles opioids must display a sign calling for citizens to call the hotline if they suspect abuse. Anyone who calls the hotline will be “immune from civil liability” relating to their reporting.
NOVEMBER VOTING & SCHOOL CLOSURES
A new law requires public schools and public charter schools used as polling places for regular November election to be closed for instruction on election day. For elections outside of the normal November election it will be up to law enforcement agencies to decide if the schools should close. DeKalb County does not use schools as polling places anymore.
*Motor Vehicles – As enacted, increases, from $400 to $1,500, the minimum property damage threshold for which a motor vehicle accident requires a written report to be filed with the department of safety, except in cases of damage to state or local government property; increases, from $500 to $1,500, the property damage threshold differentiating a Class B misdemeanor from a Class A misdemeanor for the offense of leaving the scene of an accident.
* As enacted, permits the department of safety to toll the mandatory 365 consecutive day period during which certain motor vehicles are required to be equipped with a functioning ignition interlock device if the motor vehicle is inoperable based on specified reasons
*Election Laws – As enacted, reduces from 90 days to 60 days the period before a qualifying deadline for elective office during which nominating petitions may be issued by an administrator, deputy, county election commissioner, or employee of the coordinator’s office, other than nominating petitions for the offices of the President of the United States and delegates to the national conventions of all statewide political parties
*Professions and Occupations – As enacted, gives licensing authorities discretion whether or not to suspend, deny, or revoke a license based on the applicant or licensee having defaulted or become delinquent on student loan repayment, if the licensing authority determines that the default or delinquency is the result of a medical hardship that prevented the person from working in the person’s licensed field and the medical hardship significantly contributed to the default or delinquency.
*Children’s Services, Dept. of – As enacted, extends from 30 days to 40 days the period of advance notice that licensed child-placing agencies and licensed clinical social workers must provide the department before increasing fees charged to prospective adoptive parents.
Highways, Roads and Bridges – As enacted, increases the tax on unregistered or improperly registered freight motor vehicles; revises other provisions related to overloaded freight motor vehicles.
*Handgun Permits – As enacted, exempts from the firing range and classroom hours requirements to obtain a handgun carry permit anyone who in the five years preceding the date of application has successfully completed a department of correction firearms qualification.
*Controlled Substances – As enacted, requires health care prescribers to issue prescriptions for Schedule II controlled substances electronically by July 1, 2020, with certain exceptions; establishes other provisions regarding electronic prescriptions