Published: January 2, 2019

MORE THAN 30 NEW LAWS WENT INTO EFFECT ON NEW YEAR'S DAY IN TENNESSEE.  AMONG THE LAWS PASSED BY THE TENNESSEE GENERAL ASSEMBLY INCLUDE THE SELLING OF WINE IN GROCERY STORES ON SUNDAYS.  WOMEN SEEKING AN ABORTION IN TENNESSEE WILL BE REQUIRED TO UNDERGO AN ULTRASOUND BEFOREHAND AND ABORTION PROVIDERS WILL ALSO HAVE TO REPORT WHETHER A HEARTBEAT WAS DETECTED ON THE ULTRASOUND. A LAW THAT SHORTENS THE NOMINATION PERIOD FOR PEOPLE LOOKING TO RUN IN LOCAL AND STATE ELECTIONS ALSO WENT INTO EFFECT AS DID SEVERAL NEW LAWS INTENDED TO CURB OPIOID ABUSE ALSO WENT INTO EFFECT INCLUDING A LAW THAT REQUIRES THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO PUBLICIZE A WAY TO REPORT ALLEGATIONS OF OPIOID ABUSE AND FOR THE DEPARTMENT TO ACCEPT THOSE ALLEGATIONS AND A SEPARATE LAW ALLOWS PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN ISSUED A PRESCRIPTION FOR OPIOIDS TO ONLY PARTIALLY FILL THE PRESCRIPTION.