News-Tennessee-AI-Bills-Signed-April-2026
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April 2026 — This roundup covers six Tennessee AI-related measures considered during the 2026 legislative session. The bills address AI therapy chatbots, AI personhood, smartphone limits in schools, deepfake liability, and child online content monetization.[1]
SB 1580 — AI mental-health representations
Senate Bill 1580 prohibits developers and deployers from advertising or representing to the public that an AI system is or can act as a qualified mental-health professional. Governor Lee signed it April 1, 2026; its effective date is July 1. The restriction concerns representations, rather than a blanket ban on therapy chatbots.[2]
SB 837 — AI Personhood Exclusion
Senate Bill 837, signed and effective April 23, 2026, excludes AI, algorithms, software, hardware and machines from the Tennessee Code’s general definition of “person,” while retaining corporations, firms, companies and associations. The adopted amendment replaced the original proposal’s broader definitions of human being, life and natural person.[3]
SB 2310 — Bell-to-Bell Smartphone Limitations
Senate Bill 2310 enacts bell-to-bell smartphone use limitations in public K-5 schools, restricting device usage during the entire school day.[1]
SB 2041 — Deepfake Intimate Imagery Civil Action
Senate Bill 2041 specifies parameters for civil action recovery for harm suffered as a result of deepfake intimate or sexual imagery, creating a private right of action for victims.[1]
SB 1469 — Minor Online Video Monetization Restrictions
Senate Bill 1469 restricts minors under the age of 14 from monetizing online video content, addressing concerns about the exploitation of children on digital platforms.[1]
SB 1700 — Study substituted for chatbot restrictions
The Senate adopted amendments on April 14, 2026 replacing the proposed CHAT Act restrictions with a TACIR study of potential AI regulation; the House passed the amended bill April 21. The adopted text requires analysis of legal, fiscal, economic and constitutional issues and safeguards for minors and mental health. The second amendment removed the proposed January 31, 2027 reporting deadline.[4] See Tennessee SB 1700 for the later enactment record.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Transparency Coalition — AI Legislative Update: May 1, 2026
- ↑ Tennessee General Assembly, SB 1580, official history and enacted summary, signed April 1, 2026, Public Chapter 647, effective July 1; complete one-page bill text, §§ 1–3; official record reports no amendments; reviewed November 1, 2026.
- ↑ Tennessee General Assembly, SB 837, enacted summary, full action history and amendment record; complete adopted SA0922, §§ 1–2; reviewed November 1, 2026.
- ↑ Tennessee General Assembly, SB 1700, adopted amendments and history; SA0654, §§ 1–4 and SA0965, substituted § 2, both adopted April 14, 2026; complete amendment bodies and history reviewed November 1.