Several new laws went into effect in Tennessee on January 1, 2019.

Alcoholic Beverages – Authorizes the sale of alcoholic beverages and wine on Sundays during certain hours. It also prohibits sales on Easter, Christmas, and Thanksgiving.

Controlled Substances – Requires health care prescribers to issue prescriptions for Schedule II controlled substances electronically by July 1, 2020, with certain exceptions and establishes other provisions regarding electronic prescriptions.

Licenses – Exempts certain low-income persons from initial licensure fees imposed by certain health related boards and professional regulatory boards.

Immigration – Prohibits state and local governmental entities and officials from adopting sanctuary policies and enacts other related provisions.

Prisons and Reformatory Institutions – Revises the law concerning safekeeping of prisoners in nearby jails. 

Abortion – Requires, in cases where an ultrasound is performed as part of an examination prior to an abortion, the person who performs the ultrasound to offer the woman the opportunity to learn the results of the ultrasound. It also requires, if an ultrasound is performed, that the report of abortion indicate whether or not a heartbeat was detected. 

Several other new laws were enacted including laws about Handgun Permits, Criminal Procedure and Election Laws. For a complete list of all the new laws, please visit http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Archives/Joint/publications/01-01-2019_effective.pdf