Senate amends AI bill to send child-safety review to state AI advisory council, sets year-end deadline

Senators on the floor approved an amendment that directs the Tennessee Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council to review child-safety concerns posed by artificial intelligence systems and return recommendations by Dec. 31, 2026.

The action came during third and final consideration of Senate Bill 14-93. Senator Lowe, sponsor of amendment No. 3, said the change would "rewrite the bill to send the matters concerning child safety to the Tennessee artificial intelligence advisory council," listing tasks including identifying safety concerns, potential solutions and methods of regulating online access and content. Senator Watson seconded the amendment and defended it as clarifying and directing one of the AI council’s tasks.

Senator Roberts asked whether the council already had that purview and why the bill was necessary, saying: "Does the artificial intelligence advisory council already have — is this not already under their purview?" Lowe responded that a prior council report did not explicitly address some elements and the amendment broadened and set a task.

Senator Massey, supporting the amendment, emphasized the deadline: the council must complete and report its findings by Dec. 31, 2026, so the next General Assembly could consider legislative action based on the recommendations.

After debate and the filing/withdrawal of minor committee amendments, the Senate voted to approve Senate Bill 14-93 on final consideration by recorded ballot: Ayes 27, No nays.

The bill, as amended, sends the identified AI child-safety work to the advisory council for study and recommendation, with a firm reporting timeline.

The Senate moved on to other calendar business and later recessed to allow conference committees to meet.