New Tennessee laws taking effect July 1

[TexasTowelie]

Lawmakers approved hundreds of bills during the legislative session of the 111th Tennessee General Assembly.

Many will go into effect next month, while others will begin later this year and on Jan. 1. From handheld phone use to online sports gambling, here's a look at 12 of the new state laws that will take effect July 1.

Handheld phone ban while driving

This law will prohibit drivers 18 and older from holding or physically supporting a cellphone with any part of one's body while driving.

So what does this mean? You can't talk on the phone while driving unless you use an "earpiece, headphone device, or device worn on a wrist to conduct a voice-based communication."

Drivers could be fined up to $200. Younger drivers already are prohibited from using phones while driving.

Read more: https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/local/2019/06/16/new-tennessee-laws-2019-phones-cars-sports-gambling/1471712001/

[underpants]

1. I've got to check on new Virginia laws

Child marriages

This law clarifies that a marriage license cannot be issued for an applicant who is under the age of 17 and defines "parent" for purposes of parental consent to marriage of a minor.

The legislation also would delete the "obsolete requirement" that a minor's marriage license application be mailed to the parent of the minor and held for three days before the license is issued. This comes after a law signed by former Gov. Bill Haslam in 2018 that outlawed anyone under 17 from marrying in Tennessee.

Cock fighting

This law would would make possession, owning, selling, transferring or manufacturing cock fighting paraphernalia with intent that the items will be utilized in promoting, facilitating, training for or furthering cock fighting a Class A misdemeanor.