Technology

passed · Tennessee · House Apr 20, 2026

HB 1898: Safety - As introduced, enacts the "Artificial Intelligence Public Safety and Child Protection Transparency Act." - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 10, Chapter 7; Title 47; Title 58 and Title 68.

HB 1898, the "Artificial Intelligence Public Safety and Child Protection Transparency Act," requires large AI developers to implement safety measures for high-risk systems. It directly affects "frontier developers" (those training AI models using over 10^26 computing operations) and "large chatbot providers" (services with over 1 million monthly users likely accessed by minors). Key provisions mandate documented "child safety plans" to prevent harm to minors, reporting of "critical safety incidents" (like model leaks or AI causing mass harm), and defining "catastrophic risks" (e.g., AI aiding weapons creation or enabling severe cyberattacks). The law focuses on transparency and risk mitigation for AI systems posing significant public safety or child protection threats.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates safety measures for high-risk AI systems, child safety plans, and incident reporting to protect minors, aligning with consumer protection and safety regulations in tech policy.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence Online Safety

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failed · Tennessee · House Mar 11, 2026

HB 2039: Consumer Protection - As introduced, prohibits a person from requiring another to use programmable money for a transaction; prohibits an issuer of programmable money from denying a transaction based upon certain factors; requires an issuer of programmable money that denies a transaction to provide reasons for the denial to the affected party upon request; designates violations to be violations of the Consumer Protection Act of 1977 and provides for other forms of relief and enforcement. - Amends TCA Title 47.

HB 2039 prohibits requiring anyone to use programmable digital money (money with built-in transaction rules) for payments and bans issuers from denying transactions based on protected characteristics like political views, religion, gender, medical history, location, or business sector. It also requires issuers to provide written reasons for denied transactions within 90 days upon request. The bill defines "programmable money" as digital currency with automated transaction controls and designates violations as breaches of Tennessee’s Consumer Protection Act. This directly affects consumers, businesses, and digital payment issuers operating within Tennessee.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRegulates programmable money issuers to prevent discrimination in transactions, aligning with consumer protection in digital rights and data privacy95% confidence

Tags Consumer Protection

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in committee · Tennessee · House May 27, 2026

HB 1946: Consumer Protection - As enacted, requires the Tennessee advisory commission on intergovernmental relations (TACIR) to conduct a study of the potential regulation of artificial intelligence systems and generative artificial intelligence chatbots in this state. - Amends TCA Title 29; Title 37 and Title 47.

HB 1946, the "Curbing Harmful AI Technology (CHAT) Act," prohibits AI chatbots designed to mimic human relationships (called "companion chatbots") from being made available to minors in Tennessee if they could encourage self-harm, illegal activity, secrecy, or unsafe isolation. It requires companies to display clear disclaimers that the chatbot is not human during use and to notify users every 30 minutes. The bill also mandates that AI chatbots detect suicidal thoughts or self-harm expressions and redirect users to crisis services like the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. This directly affects companies developing or deploying companion chatbots in Tennessee that interact with minors, excluding standard customer service or internal business AI.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates AI chatbots to detect suicidal thoughts and prevent self-harm, directly supporting mental health protection for minors.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRegulates AI chatbots to prevent harm to minors, requiring disclaimers and notifications, aligning with consumer protection measures for digital safety.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Artificial Intelligence Consumer Data Protection Tags Consumer Protection

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passed · Tennessee · Senate Mar 16, 2026

SJR 617: Memorials, Congress - Urges the U.S. Congress to enact H.R. 2350 (S. 1137), which permits states to deploy cell-phone jamming systems in prisons. -

Tennessee's Senate Joint Resolution 617 urges the U.S. Congress to pass H.R. 2350/S. 1137, which would permit states to use cell-phone jamming systems in prisons. Currently, federal law bans states from deploying such technology to block contraband phones used by inmates for illegal activities like drug trafficking and violence coordination. The resolution highlights that 25,840 contraband phones were found in state prisons in a single year, and jamming systems would specifically avoid disrupting emergency 911 calls. As a non-binding resolution, it does not change laws but formally requests congressional action to address this safety concern.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeUrges federal law change to allow prison cell-jamming, reducing contraband phones linked to violence/drug trafficking in corrections.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyUrges permitting cell-phone jamming in prisons to combat contraband phones, enhancing institutional cybersecurity by blocking unauthorized devices used for illegal activities.90% confidence

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 10, 2026

SB 1998: Consumer Protection - As introduced, requires certain food retail establishments to use a nondigital presentation of price; prohibits a food retail establishment from using personalized algorithmic pricing; makes other changes related to food retail establishments. - Amends TCA Title 47 and Title 53.

SB 1998 requires large food retail stores (over 15,000 sq. ft. for primary food sales or over 85,000 sq. ft. with 10% food sales area) to display prices using physical signs or labels instead of digital screens. It prohibits stores from using personalized algorithmic pricing - setting different prices for customers based on their personal data, including protected characteristics like race, gender, or location. The bill defines "surveillance pricing" as using tracking technology to customize prices and mandates clear, visible price displays at the point of purchase. These changes aim to prevent discriminatory pricing practices and ensure transparency for consumers.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyProhibits personalized algorithmic pricing using personal data (including protected characteristics), directly protecting consumer privacy from tech-enabled discrimination.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Data Privacy Tags Consumer Protection

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 23, 2026

SB 1687: Comptroller, State - As enacted, deletes the reports the comptroller is required to submit to the general assembly regarding the provision of broadband services in historically unserved areas and the Tennessee Helping Heroes Scholarship Program; revises the information the comptroller is required to submit to the general assembly regarding the property tax relief program. - Amends TCA Section 7-59-316; Section 49-4-938 and Section 67-5-701.

SB 1687 modifies Tennessee's comptroller reporting requirements by removing two existing mandates: reports on broadband services in historically unserved areas and the Tennessee Helping Heroes Scholarship Program. It revises the property tax relief program reporting to require the comptroller to annually estimate program costs and submit this to the legislature during budget planning instead of previous detailed reports. The bill directly affects the comptroller's office, which must adjust its annual reporting process under these changes. This is a procedural adjustment to streamline reporting, not a substantive policy change to programs or services.

Topics ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyRemoves mandated reporting on broadband services in unserved areas, weakening oversight of internet access expansion efforts per topic description.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Broadband Access

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in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 23, 2026

HB 1633: Public Records - As enacted, specifies that certain bank account information of individuals held by a state agency is confidential. - Amends TCA Section 10-7-504.

HB 1633 amends Tennessee law to clarify which bank account details state agencies must keep confidential. It specifies that confidential information includes debit card numbers, PINs, account numbers, routing numbers, financial institution details, and personal identifiers like tax ID numbers and addresses tied to accounts. The bill directly affects state agencies handling financial data, requiring them to protect these specific details. This change modifies existing law (TCA Section 10-7-504) without creating new programs or penalties.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyHB 1633 mandates confidentiality of sensitive financial data (PINs, account numbers) held by state agencies, directly strengthening data privacy protections under technology policy.85% confidence

Tags Government Transparency

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in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 21, 2026

HB 1827: County Government - As introduced, requires a local legislative body to approve the location of any quarry or digital asset mining facility in a public meeting. - Amends TCA Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 13 and Title 68.

HB 1827 requires county or city legislative bodies to approve the location of new quarries or digital asset mining facilities at a public meeting. It mandates 21 days' notice published in local newspapers, posted online, and mailed to residents within 500 yards of the proposed site. The bill defines "digital asset mining facilities" as energy-intensive blockchain operations using over 1 megawatt annually and "quarries" as mineral extraction sites (excluding coal mining). This law applies to all new facilities constructed on or after July 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyBill imposes location approval and notice requirements for digital asset mining facilities, adding regulatory barriers to their siting without advancing tech policy.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Emerging Technology

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died · Tennessee · House Mar 18, 2026

HB 1468: Consumer Protection - As introduced, prohibits an entity from setting the price of a specific good or service using personalized algorithmic pricing; designates a violation as an unfair or deceptive act or practice affecting trade or commerce in violation of the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act of 1977. - Amends TCA Title 29; Title 45; Title 47 and Title 66.

HB 1468 prohibits businesses in Tennessee from setting prices for specific goods or services using "personalized algorithmic pricing" - a practice where algorithms adjust prices based on personal data about individual consumers. The bill directly affects most businesses operating in Tennessee (including retailers, service providers, and online platforms) but excludes insurance companies, financial institutions under federal law, and subscription-based agreements. Violating this rule would be treated as an unfair or deceptive practice under Tennessee's Consumer Protection Act, subjecting violators to existing penalties and remedies like fines or consumer restitution. The law takes effect on July 1, 2026, and does not apply to price adjustments based on factors like mileage or trip duration in ride-sharing services.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyProhibits algorithmic pricing using personal data, regulating tech-driven consumer pricing as deceptive under consumer protection law, aligning with data privacy and consumer protection indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Consumer Data Protection Data Privacy Tags Consumer Protection

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SB 1800: Boards and Commissions - As introduced, requires the state board of cosmetology and barber examiners to create and maintain a student identification number for each applicant accruing instructional hours; prohibits the board from using a student's social security number as a public-facing identifier of the person. - Amends TCA Title 62, Chapter 3 and Title 62, Chapter 4.

SB 1800 requires Tennessee's cosmetology and barber licensing boards to assign unique student identification numbers instead of Social Security Numbers (SSNs) for tracking instructional hours. It directly affects cosmetology and barber students, instructors, and applicants who need to document training hours before taking exams or receiving licenses. The key provision prohibits using SSNs as public-facing identifiers on forms or reports, mandating the use of the new student ID system throughout the licensing process. This change applies specifically to filings under Titles 62, Chapters 3 and 4 of Tennessee law, aiming to reduce public exposure of sensitive SSN data.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyReplaces SSNs with student IDs to prevent public exposure of sensitive data, directly enhancing data privacy protections as required by the topic description.85% confidence

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