Tennessee will become the first state in the nation to launch a public domestic violence offender registry, a new tool supporters say could help prevent future violence by making repeat abusers easier to identify.

The registry, created under Savanna’s Law, takes effect Jan. 1 and applies to people convicted of domestic violence offenses at least twice. It is named after Savanna Puckett, a Robertson County sheriff’s deputy who was found shot to death inside her burning home in 2022.

Puckett, 22, died at the hands of her ex-boyfriend James Jackson Conn, who pleaded guilty to first-degree premeditated murder, among other charges, and is serving a life sentence.

It wasn’t until after the tragedy that investigators discovered Conn had a history of domestic violence and stalking.

“Tennessee is number four in states where men kill women,” said Verna Wyatt with Tennessee Voices for Victims. “So, we have a domestic violence epidemic.”

What the registry includes

Under the new law, the registry will be managed by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and will include:

• The offender’s name
• Photograph
• Date of birth
• Date and county of conviction

It will not include home addresses, Social Security numbers, or driver’s license information.

Offenders could remain on the registry anywhere from two to 20 years, depending on the number of qualifying convictions.

A law shaped by tragedy

The legislation was sponsored in the House by Sabi Kumar of Springfield and passed with overwhelming bipartisan support in both chambers back in April.

During debate, Kumar told lawmakers the registry could have changed the outcome for Puckett, who worked in law enforcement but was unable to easily find domestic violence-related charges connected to her partner before her death.

“If there was a registry for such violent offenders, Savannah being involved with law enforcement would have checked it, and a tragedy could have been avoided,” Kumar said on the House floor.

Senate sponsor Becky Massey echoed that concern, noting that despite Puckett’s position as a deputy sheriff, critical information about her partner’s past was not readily accessible.

Support from victim advocates

Advocates for survivors say the registry offers an additional layer of protection, not just for victims, but for the public at large.

“Victims always have a fear about their offender going back out and doing the same thing to someone else,” Wyatt said. “It gives you a heads up. Domestic violence doesn’t make sense, but the patterns do.”

Wyatt said the registry could help people make informed decisions when dating, hiring, or trying to protect loved ones, similar to how sex offender registries are already used.

Governor Bill Lee signs “Savanna’s Law”{ }

First of its kind

Tennessee is the first state to establish a registry specifically for repeat domestic violence offenders. While a few states maintain broader violent offender registries, none are tailored solely to domestic violence. Past efforts in states like Texas and New York failed to gain traction.

Lawmakers behind Savanna’s Law say the goal is prevention, not punishment, and giving people access to information that previously required digging through court records across multiple jurisdictions.

The registry officially goes live Jan. 1, 2025.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — Hospitals across Tennessee are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence, or AI, to improve patient care, streamline administrative processes, and support clinical staff amid ongoing workforce challenges.

AI in Stroke Care

TriStar Skyline Medical Center, the state’s first Comprehensive Stroke Center, recently introduced an FDA-cleared AI platform designed to enhance stroke diagnosis and intervention. The deep-learning imaging system rapidly analyzes brain scans, helping clinicians identify the severity and location of stroke-related abnormalities.

“At TriStar Skyline, innovation isn’t just about what’s next — it’s about what’s best for our patients,” said Dr. Dennis Cole, neurologist and medical director of the Neurosciences Program. “This AI solution empowers our team to interpret imaging faster, which can lead to improved outcomes when it matters most.”

Stroke is among the leading causes of death and long-term disability in the U.S., with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reporting that a stroke occurs every 40 seconds.

TriStar Skyline’s platform aims to streamline the entire stroke pathway, from emergency department admission to advanced intervention.

AI in Hospital Workflow

In West Tennessee, West Tennessee Healthcare is piloting Dragonfly Navigate, an AI-driven tool designed by Xsolis, an AI company based in Franklin, Tennessee.

The system helps case managers make data-informed decisions on patient discharge and post-hospital care, including transfers to skilled nursing facilities or home health services.

AI and Workforce Challenges

Vanderbilt University Medical Center is also advancing health AI through the newly launched ADVANCE Center (AI Discovery and Vigilance to Accelerate Innovation and Clinical Excellence).

FOX 17 News learned more about the center last year that aims to integrate AI into patient care, research, and training, supporting both clinical decision-making and workforce efficiency.

The hospital has formed an AI committee to address nursing shortages, using technology to help nurses monitor patients more effectively and reduce preventable injuries. Robin Steaban, chief officer of Vanderbilt’s adult hospital, said AI could allow nurses to focus more on patient care by performing some basic monitoring tasks.

“Adoption will be a little hard, but once people get it, they’ll not work some place that doesn’t have it,” Steaban said, noting that AI is still in the early stages of implementation but is expected to support long-term staffing solutions.

By supporting faster, data-driven decisions and helping manage administrative burdens, AI technologies may help improve patient outcomes while addressing workforce challenges, particularly in specialized care and nursing.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — A new Tennessee law taking effect Jan. 1 will require tattoo artists across the state to complete training designed to help identify and safely report signs of human trafficking, expanding who may be able to recognize victims in everyday settings.

The law, known as the Ink of Hope Act, requires every licensed tattoo artist to complete up to one hour of training when renewing their license. The training focuses on recognizing warning signs of trafficking and how to report concerns without confronting a suspected trafficker or putting a victim at risk.

Why tattoo shops?

Advocates say traffickers sometimes use tattoos as a form of control, branding victims with names, symbols, or dates tied to their trafficker.

“You’re in a very intimate space with someone,” said Tom Chisholm, owner of Bellevue Tattoo Emporium. “You can often tell if someone is getting a tattoo because they want it or because they feel like they have to.”

A 2022 survey of 40 U.S. anti-trafficking organizations found 47% of survivors reported being branded or tagged with a tattoo by their trafficker.

Chisholm says some tattoo requests can raise red flags.

“Certain dates can represent different handlers,” he explained. “It’s essentially a substitute for a name.”

That’s one reason lawmakers targeted the tattoo industry for mandatory training, alongside other professions like health care providers and hair stylists that already receive trafficking awareness education.

Training without confrontation

The training required under the law will be provided by an accredited nonprofit and delivered as a short video. It teaches artists how to recognize potential signs of trafficking and how to report concerns safely to authorities without intervening directly.

The law also includes protections for tattoo artists, shielding them from liability when deciding whether to report suspected trafficking.

At Bellevue Tattoo Emporium, Chisholm has already implemented measures that mirror what the training emphasizes.

He has posted signs at every tattoo station and inside the bathroom explaining a discreet hand signal that victims can use to ask for help and reassuring clients that staff will respond quietly and confidentially.

Tom Chisholm inside his tattoo shop.{ } (Photo by Fox 17 News)

“If someone gives us that signal or whispers that they need help, we know what to do without causing a scene,” Chisholm said. “We can step away and make the call without tipping anyone off.”

One person can make a difference

Survivor advocates say expanding trafficking awareness to more public-facing businesses can help interrupt dangerous situations, especially in places with heavy foot traffic or frequent visitors.

Tennessee Voices for Victims works with survivors across the state and supports laws aimed at earlier intervention.

“Often victims are living in a world of such violence and abuse that they think they can’t get out,” said Verna Wyatt, the organization’s executive director. “But there is support for them.

Wyatt says human trafficking impacts communities statewide, not just large cities, and victims may encounter many people before someone recognizes the signs.

What happens next

The Ink of Hope Act takes effect Jan. 1, making Tennessee one of the first states to require formal human trafficking awareness training specifically for tattoo artists.

Supporters say the goal isn’t to turn artists into investigators, but to give them tools to respond safely if something feels off.

“If you can do one more thing to make this less likely to happen,” Chisholm said, “that’s a really good thing.”

If you or someone you know may be a victim of human trafficking, you can call the Tennessee Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-800-55-TNHTH or 1-800-558-6484.