TBA Law Blog

TBA Law Blog

New Laws Take Effect Jan. 1; 3 Face Lawsuits

Posted by: Julia Wilburn on Dec 17, 2024

Several new state laws are set to take effect Jan. 1, 2025, reports the Tennessean. The Protecting Children from Social Media Act requires social media companies to verify users' ages before they can create an account. If the user is a minor, the company must confirm "express parental consent" before the minor is allowed to create an account. The Protect Tennessee Minors Act limits minors from accessing pornography online. Companies may either require users to match an uploaded photo with a state ID or use "a commercially reasonable method relying on public or private transactional data to verify" that users are over 18 years. Both the social media and pornography age verification laws are facing free speech lawsuits in federal courts. Also on Jan. 1, residents of China, Iran, North Korea and other countries subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations will be prohibited from owning agricultural land in the state. It was challenged in court on Oct. 31 by investors in the Walton Tennessee company. Other laws taking effect in the new year are HB1814, which requires landlords to provide contact information for the "agent" authorized to manage the property; a new law requiring alcohol servers to be trained on preventing date-rape drugging and the role of alcohol and drugs in sexual assault; and SB1919, requiring medical providers with TennCare to begin prescribing birth control as a 12-month refill, allowing patients to get a year's worth of contraceptives without returning for multiple doctor visits.

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