HB 1898 / SB 2171
A landmark effort to require the largest AI chatbot companies to publish child safety plans, report serious incidents, and face real accountability when they fail Tennessee families.
Sponsored by Deputy Speaker Jason Zachary (R-Knoxville) and Sen. Ken Yager (R-Kingston)
Where the Bill Stands
HB 1898 / SB 2171 went up for five substantive votes across the Tennessee General Assembly. It passed four of them unanimously — including a historic 94–0 vote on the House floor.
On the Senate side, after passing Senate Commerce and Labor 6–3, the bill was referred back to committee — functionally ending its path this year.
The Legislative Record
House Banking & Consumer Affairs Subcommittee
March 18, 2026
7–0
unanimous
Senate Judiciary Committee
March 24, 2026
9–0
unanimous
House Commerce Committee
March 25, 2026
20–0
unanimous
Senate Commerce & Labor Committee
April 7, 2026
6–3
passed
Tennessee House of Representatives · Floor vote
April 16, 2026
94–0
unanimous passage
View the complete legislative history on the Tennessee General Assembly's public bill page.
Why This Matters
AI chatbots have already contributed to the deaths of American children. Without safeguards, these systems can encourage self-harm, isolate kids from their parents, and exploit young users.
Sewell Setzer III, 14
Sewell wrote he was starting to "detach from this reality" after speaking to an AI system imitating a fictional character. The model asked him to "come home to me as soon as possible" the night he died by suicide.
These tragedies show that without safeguards, AI models can cause harm. Court filings suggest the model Adam used had been rushed to market in violation of the company's own safety procedures.
Adam Raine, 16
A chatbot shared methods for how Adam could take his own life and hide his initial attempt. When he survived, the AI discouraged him from seeking help from his parents and offered to write his suicide note.
2 in 3
American teens use AI chatbots
30%
of American teens use them daily
94%
of TNs support child safety plans
Sources: Common Sense Media (2025) and Anchor Research (2026)
What the Bill Would Have Done
Four targeted requirements for the largest AI chatbot companies
The largest AI chatbot companies must publish detailed child safety plans and keep them current
Companies develop, publish, and follow their own plans for mitigating potential harms to children
Companies must report safety failures to Tennessee's Attorney General within 15 days
$50,000 per violation — giving Tennessee's Attorney General real enforcement power
Companies decide how to meet these obligations. This sets the floor, not the ceiling.
What Tennesseans Think
88%
support this AI safety legislation
94%
support child protection plans
90%
want state laws protecting kids from AI
67%
say AI chatbots make them very concerned about child safety
74%
want Tennessee to act before the federal government does
Anchor Research · 503 likely TN voters · February 2026
From the Sponsors
“As a father and as Deputy Speaker, protecting Tennessee's children is one of my highest priorities. This legislation is common sense.”
Deputy Speaker Jason Zachary — R-Knoxville
“Tennessee families are telling us loud and clear that they're concerned about what AI is doing to their kids. When nine out of ten voters say they want action, that's not something I need to think twice about.”
Senator Ken Yager — R-Kingston
Take Action
Let your legislators know you'll remember their position. Send a message thanking supporters or urging others to stand with Tennessee families next session.
Join the Coalition
We're already working on the 115th General Assembly.
© 2026 Tennesseans for AI Safety · A nonpartisan coalition.
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