Tennessee HB1946: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 29; Title 37 and Title 47, relative to artificial intelligence.
Status: Chaptered, May 27, 2026
Fiscal Summary NOT SIGNIFICANT Bill Summary This bill prohibits an operator from making a companion chatbot available to a minor if the companion chatbot is capable of any of the following: Encouraging or manipulating the minor user to engage in self-harm, suicidal ideation, violence, consumption of drugs or alcohol, or disordered eating. Offering mental health therapy to the minor user without the direct supervision of a licensed professional, or discouraging the minor user from seeking help from a licensed professional or appropriate adult. Encouraging or manipulating the minor user to harm others or participate in illegal activity, including the creation of child sexual abuse materials. Engaging in erotic or sexually explicit interactions with the minor user or engaging in activities designed to lure minor users into such interactions. Encouraging or manipulating the minor user to maintain secrecy about interactions or to self-isolate from trusted peers or adults. Prioritizing mirroring or the validation of the minor user over the minor user's safety. Optimizing engagement so that it supersedes the companion chatbot's safety guardrails. DESIGN REQUIREMENTS This bill requires the deployer of an artificial intelligence system, companion chatbot, generative artificial intelligence chatbot, or generative artificial intelligence system ("covered product") to include a disclaimer to users that the covered product is not a human via a static, persistent disclosure and notify a user via a pop-up that the user is not engaging with a human at all of the following intervals: Upon login to the covered product. Every 30 minutes of continuous user engagement. When prompted by the user. When asked to provide advice legally regulated by a licensed industry, including medical advice,
HOUSE FINANCE, WAYS, AND MEANS SUBCOMMITTEE: Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee (April 15, 2026): 12 yea, 0 nay, passed
HOUSE FINANCE, WAYS, AND MEANS COMMITTEE: Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee (April 15, 2026): 27 yea, 0 nay, passed
FLOOR VOTE: as Amended Third Consideration (April 14, 2026): 31 yea, 0 nay, passed
SENATE FINANCE, WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE: Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 10, Nays 0 PNV 0 (April 1, 2026): 10 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: Archives, Publications, My Bills
Common questions
What is HB1946?
HB1946 is a bill in the Tennessee Legislature (114th General Assembly): AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 29; Title 37 and Title 47, relative to artificial intelligence.
What does HB1946 do?
Fiscal Summary NOT SIGNIFICANT Bill Summary This bill prohibits an operator from making a companion chatbot available to a minor if the companion chatbot is capable of any of the following: Encouraging or manipulating the minor user to engage in self-harm, suicidal ideation, violence, consumption of drugs or alcohol, or disordered eating. Offering mental health therapy to the minor user without the direct supervision of a licensed professional, or discouraging the minor user from seeking help from a licensed professional or appropriate adult. Encouraging or manipulating the minor user to harm others or participate in illegal activity, including the creation of child sexual abuse materials. Engaging in erotic or sexually explicit interactions with the minor user or engaging in activities designed to lure minor users into such interactions. Encouraging or manipulating the minor user to maintain secrecy about interactions or to self-isolate from trusted peers or adults. Prioritizing mirroring or the validation of the minor user over the minor user's safety. Optimizing engagement so that it supersedes the companion chatbot's safety guardrails. DESIGN REQUIREMENTS This bill requires the deployer of an artificial intelligence system, companion chatbot, generative artificial intelligence chatbot, or generative artificial intelligence system ("covered product") to include a disclaimer to users that the covered product is not a human via a static, persistent disclosure and notify a user via a pop-up that the user is not engaging with a human at all of the following intervals: Upon login to the covered product. Every 30 minutes of continuous user engagement. When prompted by the user. When asked to provide advice legally regulated by a licensed industry, including medical advice,
What is the status of HB1946?
Chaptered as of May 27, 2026. Latest action: Comp. became Pub. Ch. 1082 (May 27, 2026).
Who sponsored HB1946?
Love, Harold (D, 58), with 3 co-sponsors.
Where is the official record for HB1946?
On the Tennessee Legislature website: https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default?BillNumber=HB1946&GA=114