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HB1470 • 2026

Health Care

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 33; Title 47 and Title 63, relative to mental health.

Technology
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Hicks T, Walley
Last action
2026-04-06
Official status
Comp. became Pub. Ch. 647
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details about what happens in cases of accidental violations or future technological impacts, leaving these points uncertain.

Law to Prohibit AI from Claiming Mental Health Expert Status

This law stops people or companies from saying that an artificial intelligence system can act as a qualified mental health professional in Tennessee.

What This Bill Does

  • It makes it against the rules for anyone who develops or deploys an AI system to advertise or represent that such system is a qualified mental health professional.
  • Violating this rule means breaking the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act, which can lead to penalties including fines of up to $5,000 per violation and legal action by affected individuals.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People or companies that develop or deploy AI systems for mental health care
  • Anyone who uses these AI systems

Terms To Know

Artificial Intelligence (AI)
A computer system capable of performing functions generally associated with human intelligence, such as reasoning and learning.
Qualified Mental Health Professional
Someone who is trained and licensed to provide mental health care.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The law does not specify what happens if someone accidentally breaks the rule.
  • It's unclear how this will affect future AI technologies that might emerge after the effective date of July 1, 2026.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. became Pub. Ch. 647

  2. 2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Effective date(s) 07/01/2026

  3. 2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Pub. Ch. 647

  4. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Governor.

  5. 2026-03-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Transmitted to Governor for action.

  6. 2026-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by H. Speaker

  7. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Senate Speaker

  8. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Enrolled and ready for signatures

  9. 2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  10. 2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. SB subst.

  11. 2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed H., Ayes 94, Nays 0, PNV 0

  12. 2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Subst. for comp. HB.

  13. 2026-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Consent Calendar for 3/16/2026

  14. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 3/12/2026

  15. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  16. 2026-03-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee

  17. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Health Committee for 3/3/2026

  18. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  19. 2026-02-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Health Committee

  20. 2026-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.

  21. 2026-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Population Health Subcommittee for 2/17/2026

  22. 2026-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  23. 2026-02-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

  24. 2026-02-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate, Ayes 32, Nays 0

  25. 2026-02-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  26. 2026-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Consent Calendar 2 for 2/9/2026

  27. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee

  28. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  29. 2026-01-28 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Health and Welfare Committee calendar for 2/4/2026

  30. 2026-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Population Health Subcommittee

  31. 2026-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Health Committee

  32. 2026-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Health and Welfare Committee

  33. 2026-01-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  34. 2026-01-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  35. 2026-01-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  36. 2026-01-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

This bill prohibits a person
who develops or deploys an artificial intelligence system
from
advertis
ing
or represent
ing
to the public that such system is
,
or is able to act as
,
a qualified mental health professional.

A violation constitutes a violation of the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act of 1977
and
an unfair or deceptive act or practice affecting trade or commerce
,
and is subject to the penalties and remedies provided in
such Act
, which includes, but is not limited to, restraining orders, injunction
s, private rights of action, and damages.
However,

n
otwithstanding the civil penalty limits provided by
such Act
, a violation is subject to a civil penalty of $5,000 per violation.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 1580
By Walley

HOUSE BILL 1470
By Hicks T
HB1470
009808
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 33;
Title 47 and Title 63, relative to mental health.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 33, Chapter 1, Part 2, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
33-1-205.
(a) A person who develops or deploys an artificial intelligence system shall not
advertise or represent to the public that such system is or is able to act as a qualified
mental health professional.
(b) A violation of subsection (a) constitutes a violation of the Tennessee
Consumer Protection Act of 1977, compiled in title 47, chapter 18, part 1. A violation of
subsection (a) constitutes an unfair or deceptive act or practice affecting trade or
commerce and is subject to the penalties and remedies provided in the Tennessee
Consumer Protection Act of 1977. Notwithstanding the civil penalty limits provided by
the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act of 1977, a violation of subsection (a) is subject
to a civil penalty of five thousand dollars ($5,000) per violation.
(c) As used in this section, "artificial intelligence" means models and systems
capable of performing functions generally associated with human intelligence, including
reasoning and learning.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 47-18-104(b), is amended by adding
the following as a new subdivision:
( ) Violating § 33-1-205;
SECTION 3. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.