Technology

in committee · Tennessee · House Feb 12, 2025

HB 1209: Boards and Commissions - As introduced, provides for a new definition for the term "artificial intelligence" for the Tennessee artificial intelligence advisory council act; expands, from 24 to at least 24 and at most 27, the number of members on the council; directs the council to make various other changes. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 3, Part 31.

HB 1209 updates Tennessee's Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council by defining "artificial intelligence" as machine systems that make decisions influencing environments, expanding the council's membership from 24 to 24-27 members, and adding requirements for AI expertise among appointees. The bill mandates the council to identify data privacy best practices for state agencies, reference existing AI policies, and compile an annual inventory of state and federal AI-related laws by December 31, 2025. This inventory must assess overlaps, gaps, and alignment with federal frameworks to reduce compliance burdens. The bill directly affects the council, state agencies managing AI systems, and entities developing AI technologies in Tennessee.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates council to identify data privacy best practices for state agencies, directly advancing data privacy protections within AI governance.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence Data Privacy

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 18, 2026

SB 10: Local Education Agencies - As introduced, requires LEAs and public charter schools to adopt a policy to prohibit students from using wireless communication devices during instructional time except in certain circumstances. - Amends TCA Title 49.

This bill requires Tennessee public schools and local education agencies to adopt a policy prohibiting students from using wireless communication devices (like phones, tablets, or laptops) during instructional time, except in specific cases. Exceptions include educational use permitted by a teacher, emergencies or health management, and use authorized by a student's Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 plan. Schools must publish this policy online and may allow teachers to temporarily withhold devices from students who violate it. The rule takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year and applies to all public schools in Tennessee.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRestricts student device use during instructional time, limiting access to technology in classrooms despite educational exceptions.85% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyRestricts student device use during class, limiting internet access as per bill's explicit prohibition of wireless communication devices in instructional time.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Special Education Teachers Telecommunications

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 4, 2025

SB 897: Students - As enacted, requires local boards of education and public charter school governing bodies to adopt a policy to prohibit students from using wireless communication devices during instructional time, except in certain circumstances; makes related changes. - Amends TCA Title 49.

SB 897 requires Tennessee public schools and charter schools to create policies banning student use of wireless devices (like phones, tablets, or laptops) during instructional time, except for educational purposes approved by teachers, emergencies, health management, or as specified in a student's IEP or 504 plan. Schools must publish these policies online and establish procedures to contact parents during emergencies, ensuring device restrictions don't block emergency notifications. The law applies to all local school boards and public charter schools starting with the 2025-2026 school year. It directly affects students, teachers, and school administrators by changing device use rules during class.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRestricts student device use during instruction, limiting classroom technology access and academic freedom per bill's mandatory ban on wireless devices except specified exceptions.95% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyBill explicitly restricts student use of wireless devices (technology) during instruction, limiting technology access in schools. This directly aligns with 'restrict' in the 'oppose' definition for technology policies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice Special Education Telecommunications

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in committee · Tennessee · House Feb 5, 2025

HB 481: State Government - As introduced, increases membership of the information systems council by adding a state employee with experience in the field of cybersecurity, to be appointed by the governor. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 3.

HB 481 would add a cybersecurity expert to Tennessee's Information Systems Council, appointed by the governor. The new member would serve as a nonvoting council member, expanding the council's membership to include specialized cybersecurity expertise. The bill updates council membership rules to include this position in reappointment eligibility and clarifies that all newly appointed members (including this cybersecurity role) are nonvoting. This change directly affects the council's composition and advisory capacity regarding state information systems.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyAdds cybersecurity expert to council, enhancing cybersecurity expertise and oversight per bill's explicit purpose90% confidence

Sub-Topics Cybersecurity

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 12, 2025

SB 1174: Law Enforcement - As introduced, requires a law enforcement agency that uses body cameras to adopt a written policy for the use of the cameras by its law enforcement officers; establishes certain requirements for the policies. - Amends TCA Title 38, Chapter 1.

SB 1174 requires Tennessee law enforcement agencies using body cameras to adopt written policies governing their use. These policies must mandate that officers activate cameras during all public encounters (except immediate safety threats), wear them properly to capture footage, and notify people they're being recorded. The bill also specifies exceptions: officers must ask residents before entering homes without a warrant, victims of domestic violence or rape, and anonymous crime reporters if they want the camera turned off. These policies must include training for officers and cover how recordings are handled. The law directly affects all state and local law enforcement agencies that use body cameras and the public they interact with during patrols and investigations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires body camera policies with activation mandates and notifications, enhancing officer accountability and transparency in law enforcement encounters.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates notification before recording and proper data handling for body cameras, advancing data privacy protections in law enforcement technology use.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Law Enforcement Policing

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 11, 2025

SB 494: Education - As introduced, enacts the "Family Right to Educational Emancipation (FREE) Act," which creates a new category of independent home schools that are not subject to the data collection, reporting, or assessment requirements applicable to existing independent home school programs and that exempts such home school students and parents from compulsory school attendance requirements; prohibits the department of safety from conditioning the issuance of a driver license or learner's permit on a school-aged applicant's attendance record or enrollment status. - Amends TCA Title 37; Title 49; Title 50 and Title 55.

SB 494, the "Family Right to Educational Emancipation (FREE) Act," creates a new category of home schooling in Tennessee. Parents or guardians who choose this option for children aged 6-17 are exempt from mandatory school attendance laws, state testing requirements, and data reporting to schools or government. The bill also prohibits state agencies from denying driver’s licenses or permits based on a student’s school attendance or enrollment status. This directly affects families opting for this specific home education path, removing most state regulatory requirements while maintaining the parent’s authority over curriculum and instruction.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationExempts families from mandatory attendance, state testing, and reporting requirements, removing state educational mandates per bill language.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyExempts home schools from data collection, reporting, and assessment requirements, directly protecting student data privacy as a technology topic.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum School Choice Testing & Assessment Data Privacy

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signed · Tennessee · Senate May 15, 2025

SB 890: Health Care - As enacted, revises present law relative to a patient's electronic health record and requires a health insurance entity to establish and maintain a provider access API and a prior authorization API; makes related changes. - Amends TCA Title 8; Title 47; Title 56; Title 63 and Title 68.

SB 890 requires Tennessee health insurance companies to create two digital systems: one allowing healthcare providers to access patient electronic health records and another for processing prior authorization requests (like insurance approvals for treatments). It also shortens the timeline for certain health insurance actions by changing the requirement from 10 working days to 10 calendar days. This law directly affects health insurance entities, healthcare providers, and patients by improving access to medical records and streamlining authorization processes. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurer APIs for EHR access and faster prior auth, reducing administrative delays to improve provider/patient access and efficiency.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates health insurers to implement provider access and prior authorization APIs, advancing digital healthcare infrastructure and data interoperability.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

died · Tennessee · House Feb 6, 2025

HB 41: Education - As introduced, requires each local board of education and public charter school governing body to adopt a wireless communication policy that requires students to keep wireless communication devices turned off and stowed away during a classroom instructional day or during instructional time except in certain circumstances. - Amends TCA Title 49.

HB 41 would require Tennessee public school districts and charter schools to adopt policies mandating that students keep wireless communication devices (such as cell phones, tablets, and laptops) turned off and stored during class time. Exceptions include using devices for educational purposes with teacher permission, for health monitoring as prescribed by a healthcare provider, or if device use is part of a student's Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 plan. The policy must also establish a process for schools to contact parents during emergencies. This bill would apply to the 2025-2026 school year and beyond if enacted.

Topics ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyBill restricts student use of wireless devices (technology) during class, requiring them turned off/stowed, directly limiting technology access in educational settings.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Telecommunications

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signed · Tennessee · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 390: Public Records - As enacted, authorizes the comptroller of the treasury to publish certain survey data that is otherwise deemed confidential. - Amends TCA Section 10-7-504.

SB 390 allows Tennessee's comptroller of the treasury to publish certain survey data that was previously confidential, specifically aggregate survey results and individual responses that cannot identify participants. This affects the comptroller's office, which can now share anonymized survey information with the public, while still protecting identifiable details. The bill amends Tennessee law to explicitly permit this publication for surveys created, obtained, or compiled by the comptroller, excluding surveys from the office of open records counsel. It does not change how confidential data is handled for other state agencies. The policy change increases transparency around public surveys without revealing personal information.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyAllows anonymized survey data publication, protecting privacy while enabling transparency per data privacy standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Data Privacy

failed · Tennessee · House Mar 19, 2025

HB 1011: Consumer Protection - As introduced, prohibits an online payment system from freezing the funds of a user without first providing the user with a written notice of the online payment system's intent to freeze the user's funds; designates a violation as an unfair or deceptive act or practice pursuant to the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act of 1977. - Amends TCA Title 45 and Title 47, Chapter 18.

HB 1011 requires online payment systems (like Venmo or PayPal, but excluding banks and credit unions) to provide users with written notice before freezing their funds. It mandates that notice be given to both the sender and recipient of a transaction, with exceptions for suspected financial exploitation or fraud. Violating this rule would be treated as an unfair or deceptive practice under Tennessee's Consumer Protection Act. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, applying to new or renewed agreements after that date.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates written notice before freezing digital transaction funds, protecting consumer rights in online payment systems and treating violations as deceptive practices under consumer protection law.90% confidence

Tags Consumer Protection

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