Lowe- sponsored legislation to crack down on hostile nations, help streamline hospital visits
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 2, 2025
(NASHVILLE) As 2025 begins, there are new Tennessee laws that will go into effect. January 1, 2025 will be the first date that certain laws passed by the General Assembly in the last legislative session will go into effect. Senator Adam Lowe (R-Calhoun) fought against illegal immigration, helped streamline doctors visits last legislative session, and protected land.
“Our land is one of our most important assets here in Tennessee,” said Lowe. “Foreign adversaries should not be attempting to purchase our valuable land. This bill took additional steps to ensure that our land is not sold to enemies of our state and nation. ”
On January 1, the new laws sponsored and co-sponsored by Lowe include:
Blended sentencing for juvenile offenders prevents juveniles from avoiding the consequences of the crimes. Additionally this bill incentivizes convicted juveniles who have worked to turn their lives around. The new law allows for a juvenile convicted in criminal court to receive a ‘blended sentence’, so the juvenile would serve both a juvenile and adult sentence – keeping them in prison up to age 24. Currently, if a juvenile is convicted of a violent offense, there are only two options. One option is to handle the case in the juvenile court system where the juvenile offender will be released at age 19 with their record expunged. The other option is to try that juvenile in adult court if the offense is violent enough. Then, if convicted, the juvenile will be incarcerated in adult prison. This new blended sentencing law offers a third option for the offender to be treated as a juvenile delinquent until age 19 and then be given an adult sentence until age 24. It closes loopholes that enabled juveniles to commit serious, violent offenses.
Accepting electronic insurance cards allows for more efficient doctor and hospital visits. The law requires hospitals and physicians to accept electronic insurance cards as valid proof of insurance.
Protecting Tennessee property from foreign adversaries further protected Tennessee from land being purchased to hostile foreign nations. This bill prevents prohibited foreign parties designated by the federal government from owning or acquiring property in the state unless certain conditions are met. The new law strengthens a similar law passed last year with stricter protections and reporting requirements. Any prohibited foreign party or business that currently owns land in the state would have to divest itself from the property within two years, according to the bill. The Office of Agriculture Intelligence would also be created within the Tennessee Department of Agriculture to collect data and analyze information regarding the unlawful sale or possession of agricultural land statewide.
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