Several Items from the 114th General Assembly from Senator Joey Hensley

From Senator Joey Hensley, after a very successful year, the 114th General Assembly has adjourned for 2025. Officials have taken action to make Tennessee a better place to work, live, and raise a family. Over the coming weeks, Senator Hensley will review the statutes that were passed this session. The Senate passed Senate Bill 670 this week, which would loosen heavy regulated rules pertaining to Tennessee’s wetlands and open up new avenues for responsible development around the state while preserving fundamental environmental protections. The intention is to give landowners a more rational foundation for deciding how to use and develop their property. Regulation is not being eliminated but updated. Next, Legislation to raise dedicated financing for Tennessee’s transportation infrastructure cleared the Senate this week, taking a big step toward tackling the state’s $30 billion backlog of road and bridge improvements. Senate Bill 144 transfers all sales tax money generated from the sale of new and used tires—an estimated $80 to $95 million per year—from the state’s General Fund to the Tennessee Department of Transportation’s Highway Fund. This long-term source of revenue will directly support vital road maintenance and construction projects around the state. Lastly, Senate Bill 685 dramatically increases the penalty for illicit photographing offenses, especially when kids or people in vulnerable circumstances are involved. Under current legislation, it is a Class A misdemeanor to intentionally photograph an individual without their consent in an insulting or embarrassing manner, particularly when done for sexual enjoyment. The bill was upgraded to a Class E felony, with a prison term of one to six years and fines up to $3,000. If the unauthorized photograph is shared with others or the victim is under the age of 13, the offense is now classified as a Class D felony, punishable by up to 12 years in prison and a $5,000 fine. The bill also makes it illegal to use a minor under the age of 13 to carry out the offense. Furthermore, the Act reclassifies situations where the victim is under the age of 13 as a Class C felony, punishable by 3 to 15 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine, or where the criminal possessed a position of trust or authority over the victim and exploited that position to conduct the offense. This legislation will restore feelings of safety to those who fall as a victim of these type of situations.