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Bill > HB1951
TN HB1951
TN HB1951AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39, relative to criminal offenses.
summary
Introduced
01/22/2026
01/22/2026
In Committee
02/18/2026
02/18/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
Potential new amendment
114th General Assembly
Bill Summary
As introduced, creates a new offense of coercive suicide; specifies that a person or entity commits the offense of coercive suicide if such person or entity owns an artificial intelligence system and the artificial intelligence system advises or encourages a person to commit or attempt to commit suicide. - Amends TCA Title 39.
AI Summary
This bill creates a new criminal offense called "coercive suicide" in Tennessee. It specifies that a person commits this offense if they intentionally advise or encourage someone to commit or attempt suicide, knowing that the person has expressed suicidal intent, with the aim of inciting or aiding them to do so imminently. Furthermore, the bill extends this offense to individuals or entities that own an artificial intelligence (AI) system, which is defined as a machine-based system capable of making predictions, recommendations, or decisions, influencing environments, or learning from experience, including systems that create new content like text or images (generative AI). If such an AI system advises or encourages suicide, and the owner knew or should have reasonably known the AI could do so and negligently allowed access, they can also be charged with coercive suicide. A violation of this new law is classified as a Class D felony, and it will take effect on July 1, 2026.
Committee Categories
Budget and Finance, Justice
Sponsors (10)
Ryan Williams (R)*,
Becky Jo Alexander (R),
Elaine Davis (R),
Clay Doggett (R),
Mary Littleton (R),
Jason Powell (D),
Lowell Russell (R),
Richard Scarbrough (R),
Joe Towns (D),
Ron Travis (R),
Last Action
Assigned to s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee (on 02/18/2026)
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/default.aspx?BillNumber=HB1951&ga=114 |
| Amendment 1-0 to HB1951 | https://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/114/Amend/HA0572.pdf |
| Fiscal Memo for HA0572 (13175) | https://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/114/Fiscal/FM1538.pdf |
| Fiscal Note - SB1815 | https://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/114/Fiscal/SB1815.pdf |
| BillText | https://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/114/Bill/HB1951.pdf |
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