TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Kate Prince on Dec 29, 2021

Initiatives dealing with recidivism, state election law and criminal fines are among a series of new laws set to take effect on Jan. 1., the Knoxville News Sentinel reports. Portions of Gov. Bill Lee’s Reentry Success Act will soon go into effect, including a law that will allow victims or their representatives to submit electronic “impact statement” videos to be played at an inmate’s parole hearing. Another portion of the act will allow local correctional facilities to develop programs to reduce recidivism. Changes to the state’s election procedures will also begin on Jan. 1. Under those laws, absentee ballots must now include an official watermark that must be verified by a counting board official. Another measure expands the application of convenient voting centers – a practice authorized as a pilot project in 2020 in Monroe, Williamson and Wilson counties. Beginning Jan. 1, criminal fines must go toward victim restitution. Victims will have up to two years to file a claim for the criminal injuries compensation fund. Streamlining the way disorderly students are disciplined, starting the payment of compensation for college athletes, controlling prescription drug pricing and several other laws will also take effect in the new year.