Teens in Tennessee might think twice before harassing classmates online or in the hallways now that a new law ties their driving privileges to their behavior. Effective July 1, the law allows courts to suspend a teen’s driver’s license for up to a year if they’re found guilty of bullying or cyberbullying, giving schools and families a new tool to crack down on behavior that often spirals into long-term mental health issues and, in tragic cases, suicide.

State Rep. Lowell Russell, who sponsored the measure, called the law a long-overdue move to address the emotional damage that unchecked bullying inflicts on young people. “Bullying can cause long-term harm that results in mental health problems later in a person’s life. Most acts of violence and suicides are noted as the result of being bullied. I simply got tired of nothing being done to stop bullying,” Russell said, noting the bill passed with strong bipartisan support.

Here’s how it will work: If a teen is found guilty of bullying in court, the judge can notify the Tennessee Department of Safety to block the teen from getting or renewing a driver’s license. Teens already holding a license could have it revoked, cutting off their ability to drive themselves to school, work, or social activities. Those caught driving on a suspended license could face additional penalties.

There is, however, a narrow lifeline for first-time offenders. The law allows teens to apply for a restricted license to drive to essential activities like school and work but bars them from using it for extracurriculars or social events. They have just 10 days to apply after the court’s decision and must pay a $20 fee to obtain the restricted license.

The move comes amid ongoing concerns about teen suicides linked to bullying. In one recent case, a Tennessee teen died by suicide after classmates outed him as bisexual on social media. Advocates see this new measure as a way to inject accountability into environments where bullying can easily go unchecked.

Scott Payne, a manager at Knoxville’s Contact Care Line, said he hopes the law sparks deeper conversations about why teens bully in the first place. “Bullies aren’t just born. They don’t just pop up. They’re products of their environment. We need to be talking with them and finding out what’s going on in their lives that’s bringing about this type of behavior,” Payne told WVLT, emphasizing that punishment alone won’t solve the deeper social issues contributing to youth aggression.

The new Tennessee law builds on a series of legislative efforts targeting bullying and suicide prevention in the state, signaling a willingness among lawmakers to pursue tougher penalties while also examining the social factors behind bullying.

For now, Tennessee teens with a taste for independence behind the wheel may have to decide whether a cruel post or hallway shove is worth the risk of losing that freedom—and parents and schools now have a sharper tool to address the behavior when it goes too far.