Technology (Artificial Intelligence)

HB 1246 requires Tennessee's Attorney General's office to report on investigations into consumer protection violations (like scams or unfair business practices) where artificial intelligence was used to commit those violations. The report must cover cases from January 2024 through December 2025 and be submitted to specific legislative committee chairs by July 1, 2026. This bill does not change consumer protection laws but mandates data collection on AI's role in enforcement. The report may be submitted electronically, and the bill amends multiple Tennessee Code sections to reflect this requirement.

SB 814 creates a three-year grant pilot program (2025-2026 through 2027-2028) for Tennessee school districts meeting specific criteria. Eligible districts - those identified as priority schools under state accountability rules or experiencing student fatalities from gun violence on campus - can receive grants to purchase AI-powered weapons detection systems that identify knives and firearms and immediately alert law enforcement. The program requires all systems to notify authorities upon detection and mandates annual reporting to the legislature on grant distribution and system coverage. Funds must be fully allocated each year to eligible districts, with unused funds redirected toward other approved security measures if all target schools are covered. The pilot ends July 31, 2028.

SB 404 amends Tennessee law to expand the crime of unlawful exposure to include distributing digitally altered intimate images created or modified using AI, editing software, or other digital tools - with the intent to cause emotional distress. It directly affects identifiable individuals whose private images are manipulated and shared without consent. The law specifically targets images of intimate body parts or sexually explicit conduct that were altered via technology, making such distribution a criminal offense. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and applies to images created or modified using digital tools, not just original photographs.