TennesseeArtificial intelligence training faces criminal penalties and lawsuits
Beginning July 1, 2026, people who knowingly train covered artificial intelligence for listed harmful or human-like conduct could face felony charges and civil lawsuits.
What it does
Knowingly training artificial intelligence to encourage suicide or homicide, imitate a health professional, form emotional relationships, or obtain sensitive information would be a Class A felony, subject to listed bot exclusions.
People harmed by covered artificial-intelligence training could sue for damages and legal costs, while courts could stop the system or require new training.
Argument forPeople harmed by an AI system could seek damages or a court order to stop the system and correct its training.
Argument againstThe serious felony penalty and possible $150,000 damages could expose developers to major legal risk when applying broad rules about human-like AI behavior.
More detail
A person would commit a Class A felony by knowingly training artificial intelligence to carry out specified harmful or human-like conduct. The rule covers artificial intelligence, including some chatbots, trained to encourage suicide or homicide, provide emotional support, act like a licensed health professional, form relationships, isolate users, obtain sensitive information, or simulate a human. The person must knowingly train the artificial intelligence. The rule does not cover every bot or device; listed exclusions include some customer-service bots, limited video-game bots, and certain voice assistants. The rule applies to conduct occurring on or after July 1, 2026.
An individual harmed by covered artificial-intelligence training could sue the person responsible, and a court could order the system stopped or retrained. The remedy covers people harmed by a violation; guardians, estate representatives, family members, or court-approved representatives may act for minors, incapacitated people, or deceased people. A person may seek either actual damages, including emotional distress, or $150,000 in liquidated damages. A court may also award punitive damages, reasonable attorney fees, and other litigation costs. A court may issue a temporary or permanent order stopping operation until the violation is corrected and may require compliant retraining. The civil remedy applies to conduct occurring on or after July 1, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 27Comp. became Pub. Ch. 1066Latest
- Apr 23Comp. SB subst.
- Apr 23Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Apr 22Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/22/2026
- Vote recorded HOUSE CALENDAR & RULES COMMITTEE: H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/22/2026 4/22/2026. Result: fail.Lower
- Apr 22H. Placed on Regular Calendar 2 for 4/22/2026
- Apr 22Reset on cal. for 4/23/2026
- Apr 22H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/23/2026
- Apr 16Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Apr 14Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules CommitteeMinor
- Vote recorded HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee 4/14/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 14Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/14/2026
- Apr 14Reset on Final cal.2 of Calendar & Rules Committee
- Apr 8Action def. in Judiciary Committee to 4/15/2026
- Apr 8Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 4/14/2026
- Apr 7Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Apr 1Action def. in Judiciary Committee to 4/8/2026
- Apr 1Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 4/7/2026
- Mar 25Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Judiciary CommitteeMinor
- Vote recorded HOUSE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SUBCOMMITTEE: Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Judiciary Committee 3/25/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 25Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 4/1/2026
- Mar 18Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/25/2026
- Feb 17Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Feb 10Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Jan 15Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Jan 14P2C, ref. to Judiciary CommitteeMinor
- Jan 14Assigned to s/c Criminal Justice SubcommitteeMinor
- Jan 13Intro., P1C.Minor
- 2025
- Dec 11Filed for introductionIntroduced
TechnologyAI & PrivacyCriminal Justice