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HB2060 • 2026

Banks and Financial Institutions

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 45, relative to digital currencies.

Labor
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Towns, Yarbro
Last action
2026-03-18
Official status
No Action Taken
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Digital Currency Protection for Consumers

This bill stops banks from turning customers' money into digital currency without getting a clear written agreement from those customers.

What This Bill Does

  • Defines 'bank' to include state banks, savings and loan associations, and credit unions.
  • Requires banks to get written permission from customers before changing their money into digital currencies or similar forms of digital payment.
  • Allows the commissioner of financial institutions to punish banks that break this rule by ordering them to stop the violation, pay fines up to $1,000 per day for each day they continue breaking the law, and cover investigation costs.
  • Enables people who are hurt by a bank's actions to sue the bank in court and get damages if the court finds the bank guilty.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Banks that hold money for customers
  • Customers whose money is held by banks

Terms To Know

Digital Currency
Money in digital form, like cryptocurrency or other virtual currencies.
Commissioner of Financial Institutions
The person responsible for overseeing and regulating financial institutions in Tennessee.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This bill has not yet been signed into law, so it may change before becoming official.
  • It is not clear how this law will be enforced or what the exact penalties will be beyond those specified.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Commerce and Labor Committee

  2. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Commerce and Labor Committee calendar for 4/7/2026

  3. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    No Action Taken

  4. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Banking & Consumer Affairs Subcommittee for 3/18/2026

  5. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Banking & Consumer Affairs Subcommittee to 3/18/2026

  6. 2026-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Commerce & Labor Committee to 3/17/2026

  7. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Banking & Consumer Affairs Subcommittee for 3/11/2026

  8. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Banking and Consumer Affairs Subcommittee to 3/11/2026

  9. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Commerce and Labor Committee calendar for 3/10/2026

  10. 2026-03-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Commerce and Labor Committee to 3/10/2026

  11. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Banking & Consumer Affairs Subcommittee for 3/4/2026

  12. 2026-02-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Commerce and Labor Committee calendar for 3/3/2026

  13. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Commerce and Labor Committee

  14. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Banking & Consumer Affairs Subcommittee

  15. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Commerce Committee

  16. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  17. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  18. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  19. 2026-01-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
SENATE BILL 2522
By Yarbro

HOUSE BILL 2060
By Towns
HB2060
011448
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 45,
relative to digital currencies.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 45, Chapter 2, Part 17, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
(a) As used in this section:
(1) "Bank" means a state bank, savings and loan association, or credit
union; and
(2) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of financial institutions.
(b) A bank shall not digitize or otherwise convert money held by the bank on
behalf of a consumer into a digital currency, digital medium of exchange, or digital
monetary unit of account, including cryptocurrency, without express, written
authorization from the consumer for whom the money is held.
(c) If, after notice and an opportunity for a hearing, the commissioner finds that a
bank has violated subsection (b), the commissioner may order the bank to do one (1) or
more of the following:
(1) Cease and desist violating subsection (b);
(2) Pay a civil penalty in an amount specified by the commissioner, not to
exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each violation or, in the case of a
continuing violation, one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each day that the violation
continues; or
(3) Pay the costs and expenses for the investigation and prosecution of
the matter, including reasonable attorney fees.

- 2 - 011448

(d) In addition to the penalties and remedies described under subsection (c), an
individual or entity aggrieved by a violation of subsection (b) may bring a civil cause of
action against the bank. If a court finds the bank violated subsection (b), then the court
may issue an injunction and award to the prevailing party:
(1) Actual damages;
(2) Punitive damages; and
(3) Reasonable court costs and attorney fees.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it, and
applies to conduct occurring on or after that date.