TRI-CITIES, Tenn./Va. (WJHL) – As the calendar turned to January 1st, a series of laws approved by the Virginia and Tennessee General Assembly in 2025 officially took effect.

These regulations, enacted after receiving the endorsement of state legislators and the signatures of their governors, aim to shape various aspects of life in both states starting Thursday.

Highlighted below are the Tennessee laws now active as of January 1, 2026:

Savanna’s Law

In April 2025, Governor Bill Lee sanctioned Savanna’s Law, which establishes a registry specifically for repeat offenders of domestic violence in Tennessee.

Savanna’s Law is named after a 22-year-old named Savanna Puckett, a sheriff’s deputy who was murdered in 2022 in her home in Springfield. Puckett’s mother testified in favor of the law and stated her daughter was stalked.

The registry will include the offender’s name, date of birth, county and conviction date as well as a current photograph.

The new registry will be maintained by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI).

Cannabis Restriction

Tennessee has implemented a state law that bans the sale of most THCA products, including smokeable vapes, by limiting the total THC content to 0.3%.

Sales of hemp products are restricted to 21 years and older.

Product oversight is now in the hands of the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC).

Ink of Hope Act

The Ink of Hope Act adds human trafficking intervention training to all tattoo artists and operators in Tennessee.

Artists looking to renew a license or obtain a license must complete a one hour training. The course can be completed online or in person.

Training includes how to recognize the signs of human trafficking, how to respond to those signs, how to refer a client to resources for victims of human trafficking and reporting signs of human trafficking to the Tennessee Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline.

The training is done at no cost to the applicant and must be completed through a non-profit organization approved by the Tennessee Human Trafficking Advisory Council.

HB0164/SB0128

This new law permits licensed chiropractors in the state of Tennessee to be able to practice on animals.

This bill allows licensed human chiropractors to take six hours of animal chiropractic education annually in addition to required education set by the board of chiropractic examiners to receive a certification from the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association.

HB1378/SB1420

Signed by Lee in May, written driver’s license examinations in Tennessee are required to include information to educate new drivers on hand signals used by bicyclists, including turning, slowing and stopping.

The bill aims to educate drivers to communicate with bicyclists who share the road to improve safety.

Here are the new Virginia laws in effect as of Jan. 1, 2026:

Minimum Wage Increase

Virginia’s minimum wage increased to $12.77 which reflects a 36-cent increase from the previous minimum wage rate of $12.41.

According to the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry, tipped employees will be required to be compensated $2.13 an hour, but their total earnings, including wages and tips, must meet the minimum wage rate.

SNAP Benefits

Starting in April 2026, SNAP benefit recipients will be unable to use their benefits to purchase sweet drinks like soda and energy drinks. Candy will also be ineligible for benefit use.

Social Media Restriction to Minors

Children under the age of 16 years old are now restricted to one hour per day per social media platform.

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin signed off on the legislation in early 2025. It requires social media platforms such as Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, X and Pinterest to restrict a daily limit through settings.

Breast Cancer Testing

Breast cancer testing such as medical resonance imaging (MRI’s), mammograms and breast ultrasounds will not require co-pays, deductibles and other fees charged by health insurance companies.

The new legislation prohibits health insurance agencies from charging for breast cancer testing.