While most of the public attention has been focused on the new law that allows wine to be sold in grocery stores, there are dozens of other new laws that impact lawyers. Read a wrap up of legislation enacted in the current session. Laws that take effect July 1 are highlighted in yellow.

While most of the public attention has been focused on the new law that allows wine to be sold in grocery stores, there are dozens of other new laws that take effect on July 1.

Below is a list of legislation enacted in the current session, with those that take effect on July 1 highlighted in yellow.

A group of Tennessee lawmakers were in Washington, D.C., today to meet with federal regulators as part of an effort to improve access to health care coverage for the uninsured. The group – formally known as the “3-Star Healthy Project” – were to meet with officials from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and present a plan to address the needs of uninsured veterans and those struggling with behavioral health issues, the Tennessean reports. The group includes Reps. Karen Camper, D-Memphis; Matthew Hill, R-Jonesborough; Roger Kane, R-Knoxville; Steve McManus, R-Cordova; and Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville; as well as Sen. Richard Briggs, R-Knoxville.

The Tennessee Department of Health has named Jeremy Davis as its new assistant commissioner for legislative affairs, Humphrey on the Hill reports. Davis comes to this new role after serving as a legislative liaison for the department and as a policy assistant for Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris. He succeeds Valerie Nagoshiner, who has been promoted to chief of staff.

The head of the University of Tennessee system has appointed an adviser to focus on increasing diversity across the school’s multiple campuses and serve as a liaison to state lawmakers. Noma Anderson, who most recently was a dean at the school’s health sciences center, says she will represent the school on Capitol Hill “in a more consistent way, not waiting for a general hearing” or a controversy to erupt. This past session, the legislature defunded the UT Diversity Office over its instructions on using gender-neutral pronouns and inclusive language about holiday parties. Nashville Public Radio reports.

A new state law that permits full-time faculty, staff and other employees of Tennessee's public colleges and universities who have handgun-carry permits to carry their guns on campus will go into effect July 1. The Tennessean reports that police at the University of Tennessee on Monday will start registering employees who want to carry guns on the Knoxville campus.

State Rep. Andy Holt today announced that he will personally pay for the first five people that contact his office to get their handgun carry permits. “I want people to arm themselves,” said Holt, R-Dresden. “I think members of the LGBT community are starting to realize how crazy it is that Democrats want to leave them completely defenseless.”

Rep. Mark Pody, R-Lebanon, and Sen. Mae Beavers, R-Mt. Juliet, are demanding that the state pay a 60-year-old man who spent 31 years in prison for a rape he did not commit. Under state law, people who are wrongfully imprisoned in Tennessee can be compensated up to $1 million. But the man cannot be paid until Gov. Bill Haslam officially exonerates him, the Associated Press reports. 

The Tennessean reports Rep. Bill Spivey, R-Lewisburg, has joined other Republican lawmakers who are calling for an end to Attorney General Herbert Slatery’s investigation of Rep. Jeremy Durham, R-Franklin. In a letter to the head of the committee that initiated the investigation, Spivey cited concerns over some of Slatery’s actions in the investigation and said that the probe "reeks of a political witch hunt.” State election officials announced earlier this month that they are also investigating Durham’s finances. 

The Tennessean reports that Rep. Andy Holt said he is standing behind his decision to give away a semi-automatic rifle, similar to the one used in the Orlando shooting, at his upcoming fundraiser. "It has nothing to do with the style of weapon. It has everything to do with who’s behind the weapon," said Holt, R-Dresden. The Nashville Post later reported that Holt is doubling the prize, giving away two of the AR-15 assault rifles.