State Senator Joey Hensley, M.D., has recently detailed a series of new laws enacted during the 2025 session of the 114th General Assembly in Tennessee, emphasizing consumer protection, public safety, and support for independent workers.
One significant piece of legislation aims to enhance regulations surrounding the sale of vaping products, with the goal of reducing accessibility for minors. This law raises the age limit for identification checks from 30 to 50 years old, establishes a comprehensive statewide database for FDA-approved or pending vaping products, and equips law enforcement with additional resources to combat the distribution of illegal vape items. These provisions are set to take effect on January 1, 2026.
In addition, lawmakers have instituted more stringent regulations concerning hemp-derived cannabinoid products. This new law prohibits the sale of psychoactive substances, including THCa and THCp, while also imposing limits on product potency and container sizes. Regulatory authority for these products will be transferred to the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission. Furthermore, the legislation introduces new wholesale taxes that are projected to generate over $100 million annually starting in 2027.
Another noteworthy initiative is the Voluntary Portable Benefit Act, which aims to provide gig workers, musicians, freelancers, and other independent contractors with access to essential benefits such as health insurance, retirement savings, and paid leave. Under this act, companies have the option to contribute to benefit accounts controlled by workers without altering their employment classifications, and workers themselves can also make voluntary contributions to these accounts.