Technology

died · Tennessee · House Feb 6, 2025

HJR 65: Memorials, Congress - Urges Congress to pass the SCREEN Act, -

HJR 65 is a Tennessee House Joint Resolution urging the U.S. Congress to pass the SCREEN Act, which would require age verification for online pornography to protect minors. It also calls on Tennessee to enforce its Protect Tennessee Minors Act and the U.S. Department of Justice to prioritize enforcing federal obscenity laws. This non-binding resolution, introduced in January 2025 and withdrawn in February 2025, does not create new laws but expresses legislative support for measures to restrict minors' access to online pornography. It references statistics about minors' exposure to online porn and the lack of enforcement of existing federal obscenity laws.

Topics ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyRequires age verification for online porn, mandating data collection that conflicts with privacy protections and restricts tech access to content, aligning with 'restrict' indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Online Safety

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 12, 2025

SB 310: Motor Vehicles - As introduced, excludes automated driving system (ADS)-operated vehicles used to transport property for hire in interstate commerce or to transport passengers for hire from the exemption allowing ADS-operated vehicles to be operated without a human driver physically present. - Amends TCA Title 55 and Title 65.

SB 310 amends Tennessee law to require a human driver in the front seat for autonomous vehicles used to transport property or passengers for hire in interstate commerce. This affects commercial ride-hailing and delivery services operating with self-driving technology. The bill mandates that the human driver must monitor the vehicle, be ready to take physical control, and hold a valid driver's license. It removes the existing exemption allowing fully driverless operation for these commercial uses, effective July 1, 2025. The change applies specifically to vehicles operating across state lines for compensation.

Topics ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyRestricts fully driverless operation for commercial autonomous vehicles in interstate commerce, mandating human oversight instead of allowing full automation.90% confidence ✗ TransportationOpposes TransportationMandates human driver for commercial autonomous vehicles, restricting fully driverless operation in hire services. Limits ADS use per bill's explicit language.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Autonomous Vehicles Driver Licensing Roads & Highways

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signed · Tennessee · Senate Apr 28, 2025

SB 1434: Knox County - Subject to local approval, repeals the Tennessee Technology Development Authority Act. - Amends Chapter 148 of the Private Acts of 1983; as amended.

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.

Topics ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyRepeals Tennessee Technology Development Authority Act, weakening state-level tech corridor initiatives and removing a dedicated development structure.85% confidence

died · Tennessee · Senate Feb 4, 2025

SB 414: Local Education Agencies - As introduced, requires LEAs and public charter schools to prohibit students from displaying, using, or accessing an electronic device during the school day unless an exception applies; requires local boards of education and public charter school governing bodies to develop and adopt a policy to implement the prohibition and to submit its policy to the department of education no later than July 31, 2025. - Amends TCA Title 49.

SB 414 (withdrawn on February 4, 2025) proposed a rule requiring Tennessee public schools and charter schools to prohibit student use of personal electronic devices (like phones or tablets) during the school day, except for specific exceptions. These exceptions include devices provided by the school, authorized use under school policy, or devices used for assistive technology under a student’s IEP or 504 plan. The bill would have required school boards to create and submit written policies by July 31, 2025, including emergency notification procedures for parents. As it was withdrawn, this bill never became law.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRestricts student electronic device access during school hours, limiting educational tool usage as per bill's prohibition.90% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyRestricts student use of personal electronic devices during school hours, limiting technology access in educational settings per bill's prohibition requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice Special Education

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 25, 2025

SB 159: Election Laws - As introduced, prohibits using voting machines or voting equipment to cast, receive, or transmit an election ballot via the internet, except for military personnel and citizens abroad. - Amends TCA Title 2, Chapter 6, Part 5 and Title 2, Chapter 9.

SB 159 prohibits most voters from casting ballots using voting machines or equipment connected to the internet, amending Tennessee election laws to ban internet-based ballot transmission. The bill directly affects all Tennessee voters except military personnel and citizens living overseas, who retain existing internet voting options under current law. Key provisions add a new rule requiring voting equipment to block internet ballot transmission, except for authorized military and overseas voters. This change aims to restrict internet voting access for the general electorate while preserving existing exceptions.

Topics ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyProhibits internet ballot transmission for most voters, restricting technology use in voting systems per bill's core provision.95% confidence

Tags Elections

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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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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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died · Tennessee · Senate Mar 25, 2025

SB 645: Election Laws - As introduced, prohibits online voting, except for the electronic provision of voting materials to military members and citizens abroad; prohibits the use of a post office box for establishing residency for voting purposes; requires a registered voter who moves to a different county in this state to vote based on current residence regardless of whether the voter has updated the voter's registration. - Amends TCA Title 2.

SB 645, a Tennessee legislative bill that was withdrawn on March 25, 2025, would have made three key changes to voting rules. It would have banned online voting for most voters (except military and overseas citizens who already have specific provisions), prohibited using post office boxes for voter registration or voting addresses, and required voters who moved counties within Tennessee to vote based on their current residence without needing to update registration. The bill directly affected all Tennessee voters by altering how they register, establish residency, and cast ballots. It amended Tennessee Code Annotated Title 2, specifically sections on voting equipment, address requirements, and residency voting rules.

Topics ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyProhibits online voting for most voters, directly restricting technology use in elections. Exception only for military/overseas material provision, not voting itself.90% confidence

Tags Elections

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in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 26, 2025

HB 1132: Consumer Protection - As introduced, changes, from 45 to 50 days from receipt of a request, the time that a controller has to inform a consumer of the controller's decision to decline to take action regarding the consumer's authenticated request under the Tennessee Information Protection Act. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 8; Title 10; Title 29; Title 39; Title 47 and Title 48.

HB 1132 extends the time businesses have to respond to verified consumer data requests under Tennessee's Information Protection Act, increasing the deadline from 45 to 50 days. This change directly affects businesses (referred to as "controllers" in the law) that handle personal data and consumers who submit authenticated requests for data access or correction. The bill amends specific sections of Tennessee law to implement this 5-day extension, which applies to all covered requests. The change will take effect on July 1, 2025, as specified in the bill.

Topics ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyExtends response time for data requests from 45 to 50 days, weakening consumer data privacy enforcement under Tennessee's Information Protection Act.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Consumer Data Protection Data Privacy

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