This bill prohibits tech companies (like email or social media platforms) from notifying users when law enforcement searches their data for child sexual exploitation cases. It specifically bans service providers from alerting account holders or unauthorized individuals about search warrants or subpoenas related to these investigations. The law aims to prevent suspects from destroying evidence by alerting them to ongoing police activity. It applies directly to electronic communications services covered under Tennessee law and took effect on May 5, 2025.
SB 626 amends Tennessee's election laws to require county election commissions to publish locations of provisional counting boards and prohibit tabulating marked ballots submitted online. It also bans voting machines from connecting to the internet, directly affecting how counties manage ballot processing and voting technology. The bill makes these specific procedural changes to election administration without altering voter eligibility or ballot access. Signed by the governor on May 5, 2025, it became effective May 13, 2025.
SB 228, the "LESTER Act," requires Tennessee law enforcement to accept digital copies of vehicle registration as valid proof of registration, directly affecting drivers who use digital registration and police officers during traffic stops. It amends Tennessee law to clarify that displaying a digital registration does not grant officers permission to access other contents of a driver's electronic device. The bill also updates terminology from "motor-propelled vehicle" to "motor vehicle" in relevant sections. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.
SB 741 criminalizes possessing, distributing, or producing digital tools designed to create material featuring minors in sexual activity (real or simulated, if patently offensive). It classifies violations as Class E (possession), Class C (distribution), or Class B (production) felonies. Courts must consider specific factors like the defendant’s statements, existing material, advertising, and legitimate uses when determining intent. The law, effective July 1, 2025, directly affects individuals who handle such technology, not minors or general users.
SB 1434 repeals the law establishing the Tennessee Technology Corridor Development Authority (created under Chapter 148 of the Private Acts of 1983). This repeal only takes effect if approved by a two-thirds vote of Knox County’s legislative body. Without Knox County’s approval, the repeal does not become effective, making local consent a mandatory condition for implementation.
SB 329 requires all Tennessee state executive agencies to accept digital document submissions (replacing fax requirements) and removes "fax" or "facsimile" terminology from over 30 state code sections. It defines "electronic transmission" as digital communication (like email or online uploads) that can be stored, retrieved, and printed, excluding fax. This directly affects state agencies processing documents and anyone submitting paperwork to them, such as businesses, residents, or legal entities. The bill streamlines state operations by modernizing document submission standards without creating new programs or funding.
HB 932 requires Tennessee public schools to create policies banning student use of phones, tablets, and other wireless devices during class time, except for specific educational purposes, health emergencies, or when required by a student's special education plan (IEP) or 504 plan. The policy must allow teachers to permit device use for learning, let students access devices in emergencies, and ensure parents can be contacted during crises. Schools must publish these policies online and may temporarily withhold devices from students who violate the rules. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, applying to all public schools and charter schools in the state.
HB 395, the "Tennessee Genomic Security and End Organ Harvesting Act," prohibits Tennessee health insurers from covering organ transplants or post-transplant care if the organ was sourced from China or procured through sale/donation originating in China. It also bans medical and research facilities from using genetic sequencing equipment or software produced by entities linked to "foreign adversaries" (specifically targeting China per the bill's context), requiring replacement within 180 days. Additionally, the bill mandates that all genetic sequencing data must be stored within the United States, with remote access from outside the country prohibited without approval from the state health commissioner. The law takes effect on January 1, 2026, directly affecting health insurers, hospitals, and research facilities operating in Tennessee.
