State enacts new criminal laws effective July 1

NASHVILLE, TN. (WLAF)- As of July 1, several new laws went into effect in Tennessee. WLAF will be highlighting some of those bills. Today, is criminal offenses.

HB0920

Amends TCA Title 40. As enacted, prohibits a defendant charged with certain offenses from being released on the defendant’s personal recognizance or upon execution of an unsecured bond.

HB0940

Amends TCA Title 69, Chapter 9. As enacted, generally increases from 12 to 14, the age that a person must be to lawfully operate a personal watercraft upon the waters of Tennessee without being under the direct supervision of an adult, except that persons 12 and 13 may continue to operate a personal watercraft upon the waters of Tennessee without being under the direct supervision of an adult on Monday through Friday, excepting legal holidays.

HB1891

Amends TCA Title 55, Chapter 10; Title 55, Chapter 8 and Title 55, Chapter 9. As enacted, allows a person who submits the fine and costs for a speeding ticket in lieu of appearing in court to also register for an approved driver education course online, of which successful completion can cause points for the speeding conviction to be removed from the person’s record in accordance with current law.

SB1667

As enacted, prohibits the initial issuance of registration of a motor vehicle if the vehicle has not met the requirements of the “Financial Responsibility Law of 1977,” which provides insurance and financial responsibility requirements for motor vehicle operators; makes related changes.

HB2368

As enacted, creates a Class A misdemeanor offense when a person operates an unmanned aircraft within 400 feet of or above a ticketed entertainment event; makes related changes.

SB2434

As enacted, creates the Class C misdemeanor offense of knowingly using an unmanned aircraft over the grounds of a school.

SB1740

As enacted, expands the disposition allowed when a person under 21 is found to have unlawfully purchased, possessed, accepted receipt of, or presented fraudulent proof of age to purchase tobacco, smoking hemp, a vapor product, or a smokeless nicotine product to include requiring community service work, the successful completion of a prescribed court program, or placing the person on an informal adjustment for a period of 90 days for a first violation, and, for a second or subsequent violation, placing the person on probation for up to six months in addition to requiring community service and the successful completion of a prescribed court program focusing on the dangers of tobacco and vapor products.

SB1900

As enacted, increases the penalty for assaulting a first responder from a Class A misdemeanor with a mandatory fine of $5,000 and a mandatory minimum of 30 days incarceration to a Class E felony with a mandatory fine of $10,000 and a mandatory minimum of 60 days incarceration.

HB1513

Amends TCA Title 2, Chapter 19. As enacted, requires political advertisements to include a disclaimer if the advertisements include deepfake elements impersonating or depicting a candidate engaging in activity or speech in which the impersonated or depicted candidate did not in fact engage; makes a violation of such disclaimer requirement a Class C misdemeanor; entitles candidate to damages and equitable relief for violations.

CLICK HERE to view additional new laws.

(WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED 7/7/2026-6AM-IMAGE COURTESY OF STATE OF TENNESSEE)