Tennessee Senate Bill SB2521

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/2/26

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2; Title 4; Title 8; Title 10; Title 16; Title 29; Title 36; Title 37; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40; Title 45; Title 47; Title 48; Title 49; Title 53; Title 62; Title 63; Title 65; Title 67; Title 68 and Title 71, relative to artificial intelligence.

Summary

SB2521 makes a narrow change to Tennessee law governing a state report on artificial intelligence. It delays the deadline for a required set of recommendations from December 31, 2025 to December 31, 2026, and then continues the annual December 31 reporting schedule in 2027 and beyond. The bill also expands the required contents of that report by adding recommendations on strategies to detect and reduce the risk of fraud committed by people using artificial intelligence. In practical terms, the bill directs the relevant state entity to spend more time developing its AI-related recommendations and to address AI-enabled fraud as a specific policy issue. The measure does not create a new regulatory program or criminal offense; instead, it modifies an existing reporting requirement in Tennessee Code Annotated Section 4-3-3105 and broadens the scope of the report to include fraud prevention strategies tied to AI use. The available record shows no committee transcript, vote tally, or recorded opposition, so there is no documented debate to indicate strong support or resistance. Based on the bill text, the measure appears administrative and policy-oriented rather than controversial, with its main emphasis on updating state planning around artificial intelligence and fraud risks. The principal point of policy focus is the inclusion of AI-related fraud prevention in the state’s recommendations. That addition suggests concern about misuse of generative or automated tools for scams, identity theft, or other deceptive practices, but the bill itself leaves the specifics to the reporting process rather than mandating immediate enforcement changes.

Impact

The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Section 4-3-3105(c) by extending the deadline for a required report and adding a new reporting topic on strategies to detect and minimize fraud involving artificial intelligence. It affects the state reporting obligations of the relevant executive branch entity, but it does not directly alter criminal statutes, civil liability rules, or regulatory enforcement authority.

Sentiment

There is no recorded committee discussion or vote history in the provided materials, so sentiment cannot be measured from debate or roll call. The bill’s text suggests a generally pragmatic, forward-looking approach to AI policy, with an emphasis on planning and fraud prevention rather than regulation or punishment.

Contention

No specific points of contention are documented in the provided record. If any concerns were raised, they would likely center on whether the state should prioritize AI fraud mitigation now versus later, and whether extending the reporting deadline delays needed action. However, the bill itself is limited to a reporting update and does not show any explicit partisan or stakeholder dispute.