Technology (Online Safety) in Tennessee

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 10, 2026

SB 2398: Children - As introduced, requires certain commercial online platforms, websites, and applications to maintain a content moderation system that allows users to report material harmful to minors that is not properly marked or age-restricted; makes other changes related to platform content and minors. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 9 and Title 47, Chapter 18.

SB 2398 requires large social media platforms (with 10 million+ monthly U.S. users) to implement systems allowing users to report unmarked or improperly age-restricted content harmful to minors. Platforms must acknowledge reports within 48 hours, act within seven business days (e.g., remove content or apply age restrictions), and publish semi-annual transparency reports detailing their responses. Parents or legal guardians of minors can sue platforms for failing to address repeated reports of unmarked harmful content, seeking up to $5,000 per violation, while the state attorney general may also enforce compliance through fines. The bill directly affects major online platforms and aims to improve content safety for minors through mandatory reporting systems and accountability measures.

Topics ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Online Safety Social Media

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 18, 2026

SB 2400: Libraries - As introduced, clarifies that the Age-Appropriate Materials Act of 2022 does not apply to any materials in the Tennessee Electronic Library. - Amends TCA Title 10, Chapter 1, Part 3 and Title 49, Chapter 6.

SB 2400 clarifies that Tennessee's Age-Appropriate Materials Act of 2022 does not apply to materials available through the Tennessee Electronic Library (TEL). The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 49-6-3803 and 10-1-301 to explicitly exclude TEL resources from the Act's requirements. This directly affects the TEL's digital collection, ensuring its materials (like e-books and databases) remain exempt from age-appropriate content restrictions. The key provision adds a specific exemption to the law's coverage, maintaining access to these educational resources without requiring age verification. The bill does not change the Act's application to other public or school libraries.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Libraries Online Safety

in committee · Tennessee · House Feb 5, 2026

HB 2522: Children - As introduced, requires certain commercial online platforms, websites, and applications to maintain a content moderation system that allows users to report material harmful to minors that is not properly marked or age-restricted; makes other changes related to platform content and minors. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 9 and Title 47, Chapter 18.

HB 2522 requires large commercial online platforms (with 10 million+ monthly U.S. active users) to implement systems letting users report unmarked or improperly age-restricted content harmful to minors. Platforms must acknowledge reports within 48 hours, review them within 7 business days, and take action like removal or age restriction. They must also publish semi-annual transparency reports detailing report volumes and resolutions, and face private lawsuits by parents if they fail to act on repeated reports - potentially resulting in $5,000 per violation. The bill targets platforms that permit harmful content without effective age verification, directly affecting major social media and app companies. The bill is currently in committee review (Commerce Committee) after initial filing.

Topics ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Online Safety Social Media

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 15, 2026

SB 2171: 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.

SB 2171, the "Artificial Intelligence Public Safety and Child Protection Transparency Act," requires developers of powerful AI systems ("frontier developers") to implement safety protocols for specific AI chatbots. It directly affects companies creating AI models trained with over 10^26 computing operations that power chatbots with at least 1 million monthly users and likely accessed by minors. Key provisions mandate documented "child safety plans" to prevent harm (like generating dangerous content or causing severe emotional distress in minors) and require risk assessments for "catastrophic risks" (e.g., AI enabling weapons or cyberattacks without human oversight). The bill defines terms like "child safety incident" and sets thresholds for applicability, focusing on transparency and risk mitigation for high-impact AI systems.

Topics ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence Online Safety

in committee · Tennessee · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 1912: Local Education Agencies - As enacted, requires each LEA and public charter school to adopt an internet acceptable use policy; makes other related changes. - Amends TCA Title 49.

SB 1912 requires Tennessee public schools and charter schools to adopt internet acceptable use policies that include student safety protocols, parental communication guidelines, and strict limits on accessing harmful content (like pornography, violence, or self-harm material). It specifically bans schools from creating email addresses for pre-K-5 students that allow them to send or receive emails, though schools may use email addresses as security data points. The bill mandates annual audits to ensure compliance and requires digital resource providers to filter harmful content and remove inappropriate materials within one business day of a school's request. This directly affects all Tennessee public schools and pre-K-5 students by restructuring how internet safety and digital access are managed.

Topics ✓ Education ✗ Technology

Sub-Topics K-12 Education School Choice School Safety Online Safety

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 ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence Online Safety

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 13, 2025

SB 538: Disabled Persons - As introduced, enacts the "Autism Spectrum Online Protection Act." - Amends TCA Title 33; Title 37; Title 39 and Title 52.

SB 538, the "Autism Spectrum Online Protection Act," creates new protections for autistic young adults (ages 18-25) under court-appointed conservatorship. It makes it a Class A misdemeanor to use online platforms to groom, sextort, or sexually exploit this group - defined as building trust to commit abuse. The law requires online platforms to implement policies preventing such exploitation and gives conservators/families tools to monitor online safety. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Courts Online Safety Telecommunications

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 ✗ Technology

Sub-Topics Online Safety

All technology bills