Committee advances AI disclosure bill requiring suicide protocols, protections for minors

The Judiciary committee advanced House Bill 14-55 after adopting and combining two amendments. Sponsor Shirley Littleton told members the bill would require a clear disclosure when a user interacts with an AI system and impose protocols for responding to suicidal ideation, including referrals to crisis hotlines.

"This bill creates an AI system to include a prominent disclosure clearly indicating the user is interactive with an AI system," Shirley Littleton said in committee. She described additional protections: prohibiting operators from encouraging engagement with points or rewards for minors, requiring reasonable measures to block explicitly sexual material for minors, and creating civil remedies under state consumer-protection law. Littleton said violations would be treated as unfair and deceptive acts under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act and that the attorney general could recover civil penalties up to $20,000,000 with the ability to designate 90% of restitution to victims.

Members pressed legal staff on whether the bill could reach entities based outside Tennessee. Michelle Fogarty of legal services said the bill defines "user" as "a person in this state who interacts with an artificial intelligence system," and that enforcement under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act would follow the same approach as other CPA actions; she also noted that broader constitutional questions, such as challenges under the Commerce Clause, would be decided by the courts. "User is defined as a, person in this state who interacts with an artificial intelligence system," Fogarty stated.

After questions and a motion to close debate, the committee voted to send HB14-55 as amended to calendar and rules; the clerk reported 21 ayes, 0 noes.