Tennessee Senate passes package of bills, creates Children's Digital Protection Fund
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Summary
The Tennessee Senate on March 5 passed a slate of bills on third consideration, including legislation to create a Children's Digital Protection Fund to reinvest proceeds from litigation against tech companies into child mental-health programs, and statutory updates ranging from trust law changes to new reporting on psychotropic medications.
NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Senate on March 5 passed a series of bills on third and final consideration, moving measures that lawmakers said address child mental health, trust law updates, traffic fines tied to the hands-free driving law and more.
Leader Johnson moved a number of bills for final consideration and the chamber took recorded votes on several measures. Chairman Watson led debate and moved final passage of Senate Bill 2061, which creates the Children's Digital Protection Fund. "This bill creates the Children's Digital Protection Fund," Watson said, explaining that proceeds the state receives from litigation or settlements with digital companies would be reinvested "directly into protecting and restoring the mental health and safety of Tennessee's children." The legislation directs the Treasury to manage the fund; appropriation decisions remain with the General Assembly. The Senate approved the bill unanimously (31–0).
Other notable measures approved included:
- Senate Bill 15-91: A sponsor amendment revised the current $10 court-cost cap tied to the hands-free driving law to allow court costs up to 50% of standard court costs charged by the court for a traffic citation. Sponsor Sen. Hale said Tennessee averages about "12,000 convictions per year" under the hands-free law and that the change aligns costs with local court practice. Questions from members focused on who would determine the precise percentage; Sen. Hale said that would be handled "between the judge and the court clerk." The bill passed on final reading (23–6).
- Senate Bill 15-67: An amendment from the judiciary committee removed a prohibition barring commissioners for an Article V convention from running for state office for four years after the convention. Sen. Roberts described the bill as placing "guardrails around the selection, the instruction, and the oversight of people who are selected to represent the state of Tennessee in an Article V convention." The Senate passed the bill (26–5).
- Senate Bill 22-55: A Health and Welfare Committee amendment requires TennCare, in consultation with the Department of Health and the Department of Children's Services, to publish two comprehensive statewide reports on psychotropic medication use and related costs using TennCare claims data; reports are due by Jan. 1, 2027, and then biannually, to be posted publicly and provided to legislative committees. Supporters cited concerns about rising prescriptions and interest in evidence-based responses. The bill passed as amended (vote: recorded in favor; no nays reported).
Lawmakers also approved a range of other bills on third reading, including routine administrative updates to workers' compensation law (Senate Bill 18-61), an annual trust-code update (Senate Bill 19-10), changes to guardian ad litem training requirements (Senate Bill 23-55), and an education measure to restore the Presidential Physical Fitness test in K–12 (House Bill 14-66). Vote tallies and committee amendments are listed in the "Votes at a glance" section below.
What happens next
Bills that passed third and final consideration are sent to the enrollment and signing process and, where applicable, to the governor. Several measures carried deadlines for implementing agencies (for example, the TennCare reporting requirement specifies the first reports by Jan. 1, 2027).
Votes at a glance
- SB 2061 — Children's Digital Protection Fund; sponsor: Sen. Watson; outcome: passed 31–0. - SB 15-91 — amend court-cost cap related to hands-free law; sponsor: Sen. Hale; outcome: passed 23–6. - SB 15-67 — convention commissioners selection/oversight; sponsor: Sen. Roberts; outcome: passed 26–5. - SB 22-55 — TennCare psychotropic medication reporting; sponsor: Sen. Taylor / health & welfare amendment moved by Sen. Crow; outcome: passed (recorded aye votes; no nays recorded). - SB 18-61 — workers' compensation technical updates; sponsor: Leader Johnson; outcome: passed (26–5). - SB 19-10 — annual trust update; sponsor: Sen. Stevens; outcome: passed (25–5). - SB 21-38 — vehicular manslaughter sentencing changes; sponsor: Chairman White; outcome: passed (26–3). - SB 23-55 — guardian ad litem training; sponsor: Sen. Massey; outcome: passed (27–3). - SB 24-07 — clinical practice permit clarification for teacher candidates; sponsor: Chairman White; outcome: passed (30–0). - SB 25-58 — state veterinarian authority; sponsor: Sen. Reeves; outcome: passed (30–0).
Key quotes
"This bill creates the Children's Digital Protection Fund," — Sen. Watson on SB 2061.
"Since the enactment of the hands free law, we've averaged about 12,000 convictions per year in Tennessee," — Sen. Hale on SB 15-91.
"What this bill is about is who would be the commissioners who would attend a convention," — Sen. Roberts on SB 15-67.
Context and considerations
Lawmakers described SB 2061 as a mechanism to direct litigation proceeds toward mental-health services, suicide prevention, research and education around children's use of technology. Sponsors emphasized that the legislature retains appropriation authority while the treasurer would manage the fund. Debate on SB 22-55 signals continuing legislative interest in psychiatric medication prescribing patterns for children in TennCare and the use of state claims data to inform policy. Members also advanced multiple procedural and statutory updates that sponsors described as technical or clarification changes.
The Senate adjourned and is scheduled to reconvene Monday at 4 p.m.