Several new Tennessee laws took effect on January 1, 2026, introducing changes across commerce, elections, immigration, health care, public safety, and taxes and fees. To support awareness of these changes, the Greater Memphis Chamber’s Government Affairs team has compiled an overview of selected laws now in effect, organized by topic for ease of reference. 

This summary is provided for informational purposes only and does not reflect policy positions of the Chamber. 

New laws going into effect January 1 include: 

Commerce 

    • Vape regulations and consumer protections (PC 324): Raises the age threshold for required ID checks from 30 to 50 and creates a statewide database of FDA-approved or pending vape products to prevent the sale of unauthorized products, particularly those targeting minors. 
    • New guardrails for the hemp industry (PC 526): Establishes new limits on potency, licensing, and oversight of hemp-derived cannabinoid products; restricts sales to age 21 and older; bans direct-to-consumer shipping; shifts enforcement to the Alcoholic Beverage Commission; and creates a new wholesale tax structure. 
    • Tattoo apprenticeship licensing update (PC 212): Extends tattoo apprenticeships from one year to two years, requires signed completion verification prior to licensure, and allows artists licensed at least 10 years in another state to take on apprentices in Tennessee. 
    • Cemetery reclamation and monument installation updates (PC 119): Allows cemeteries to reclaim and resell unused grave sites after 75 years of no family contact, while preserving rights for families to reclaim the site or proceeds within 25 years. 

Taxes and Fees 

    • Community investment tax credit changes (PC 496): Updates credit calculations to close a loophole involving short-term lines of credit. 
    • Litigation fee changes (PC 486): Establishes a $2 litigation privilege tax in most civil and criminal cases to fund continuing education for court clerks. 

Health 

    • Expanded ABLE accounts (PC 340): Raises the age of disability onset from 26 to 46, expanding eligibility for Tennesseans with disabilities. 
    • Improved access to cancer treatment (PC 505): Removes insurance step-therapy barriers for patients with advanced or metastatic cancers. 
    • Alternatives to opioid prescriptions (PC 278): Ensures FDA-approved non-opioid medications receive equal treatment on the state’s preferred drug list. 
    • Paid leave for hospice care (PC 423): Allows eligible state employees up to six weeks of paid leave to care for qualifying family members receiving hospice care. 

Elections 

    • Strengthening voter verification (PC 473): Requires real-time verification of U.S. citizenship and felony status before voter registration is completed. 

Public Safety 

    • Domestic violence registry / Savanna’s Law (PC 520): Establishes a public registry for repeat domestic violence offenders. 
    • Ink of Hope Act (PC 19): Requires tattoo artists to receive training on recognizing and reporting signs of human trafficking. 

Government Efficiency 

    • Eliminating faxes in Tennessee code (PC 94): Updates state law to replace fax references with electronic transmission. 

Immigration 

    • Preventing non-citizens from voting (PC 394): Requires training for election officials to recognize temporary IDs issued to non-citizens. 
    • Strengthening illegal immigration enforcement (PC 1): Creates the Centralized Immigration Enforcement Division, enhances coordination with federal authorities, provides grants for local participation in the 287(g) program, and requires state-issued IDs to clearly distinguish non-citizens. 
    • Invalidating certain out-of-state driver’s licenses (PC 288): Prohibits recognition of out-of-state driver’s licenses issued to individuals unlawfully present in the U.S., making driving without a valid license a Class B misdemeanor beginning Jan. 1. 

Foreign influence 

    • Tennessee Genomic Security and End Organ Harvesting Act (PC 96): Bans genetic technology from foreign adversaries and prohibits insurance coverage for organ transplants linked to illegal organ harvesting practices. 

The Greater Memphis Chamber will continue sharing state policy updates to help keep the business community informed. If you have questions about the laws summarized above or would like additional context, please contact the Chamber’s Public Policy team: publicpolicy@memphischamber.com