As we enter the new year, Tennesseans are seeing sweeping changes to how they live, work and interact online. A wide-ranging package of laws approved by the General Assembly and signed by Gov. Bill Lee touches nearly every corner of public life from parental control over social media and stronger protections for domestic violence victims—to tighter regulation of hemp products and new transparency rules for landlords.
One of the most far-reaching changes centers on youth and technology. The Protecting Children from Social Media Act (HB 1891), effective July 1, 2025, requires parental consent before minors under 18 can create social media accounts. The law also requires schools to enforce cell phone bans during classroom instruction—a move supporters say will reduce distractions and improve learning outcomes. The measure builds on earlier efforts to restrict minors’ access to adult online content through age-verification requirements.
Public safety and criminal justice reforms make up another major portion of the new laws. Savanna’s Law (named after Robertson County Sheriff’s Deputy Savanna Puckett) creates a public registry for repeat domestic violence offenders. Maintained by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the registry will include offenders’ names, photographs, conviction dates, and counties. Registration is required only if the victim consents, but when ordered, courts must report qualifying convictions within 60 days. Registrants must also pay a $100 fee to support family violence prevention programs…