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SB1624 • 2026

Election Laws

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2, Chapter 19, relative to the Transparency for Deepfakes in Political Advertising Act.

Children Crime Elections Technology
Enacted

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

Sponsor
Massey, Zachary
Last action
2026-03-30
Official status
Comp. became Pub. Ch. 625
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not specify that the law applies only during the 120 days before an election. However, it mentions that if the impersonated or depicted candidate is not an incumbent office holder, the requirements apply within one hundred twenty (120) days of the initiation of voting in an election.

Transparency for Deepfakes in Political Advertising Act

This law requires political advertisements that use deepfake technology to include clear disclaimers and sets penalties for violations.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires political ads with deepfake elements to state at the beginning and end of audio or video that they contain fake content impersonating a candidate's speech or actions.
  • Limits liability for broadcasters, hosts, third-party producers, or carriers who are not responsible for creating the deepfake content.
  • Allows candidates depicted in deepfakes to seek damages and equitable relief if their rights are violated.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Political advertisers who use deepfake technology in ads.
  • Broadcasters, hosts, third-party producers, and carriers of political advertisements.
  • Candidates for elected office depicted or impersonated by deepfakes.

Terms To Know

Deepfake
A video or audio that uses artificial intelligence to make it look like someone is doing or saying something they did not actually do or say.
Class C misdemeanor
A minor criminal offense with a penalty of up to 30 days in jail and/or a fine.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The law does not specify what happens if the broadcaster or host is responsible for creating the deepfake content.
  • It's unclear how strictly this act will be enforced or how damages will be calculated.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

Amendment 1-0 to HB1513

Plain English: The amendment changes part of Tennessee's law about deepfakes in political advertising by adding protections for certain internet companies and broadcasters.

  • Adds protection from liability for internet service providers, search engines, cloud service providers, and their affiliates or subsidiaries when they provide access to websites containing deepfake content, as long as they did not create the deepfake.
  • Excludes radio and television stations, cable operators, satellite TV operators, streaming services, and other programming services from this protection if they are paid to broadcast material with a deepfake.
  • The amendment text does not specify all details about how these protections will be implemented or enforced.
Amendment 1-0 to SB1624

Plain English: The amendment changes a part of Tennessee's law about deepfakes in political advertising by adding protection for certain internet companies from being held responsible if they provide access or connection to websites with deepfakes.

  • Adds protection for broadcasters, hosts, third-party producers, internet service providers and their affiliates, search engines, and cloud service providers from liability under the law as long as they are not responsible for creating deceptive and fraudulent deepfake content.
  • The exact scope of what constitutes 'providing access or connection' is unclear without further context.
  • It's not clear how this amendment will be enforced or interpreted by courts.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. became Pub. Ch. 625

  2. 2026-03-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Effective date(s) 07/01/2026

  3. 2026-03-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Pub. Ch. 625

  4. 2026-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Governor.

  5. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Transmitted to Governor for his action.

  6. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Senate Speaker

  7. 2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by H. Speaker

  8. 2026-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  9. 2026-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Companion House Bill substituted

  10. 2026-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.

  11. 2026-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate, Ayes 33, Nays 0

  12. 2026-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - SA0510)

  13. 2026-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.

  14. 2026-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Received from House, Passed on First Consideration

  15. 2026-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 3/12/2026

  16. 2026-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.

  17. 2026-03-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  18. 2026-03-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed H., as am., Ayes 91, Nays 0, PNV 1

  19. 2026-03-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA0611)

  20. 2026-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Re-refer to S. Cal Comm

  21. 2026-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 3/9/2026

  22. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 3/5/2026

  23. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee

  24. 2026-03-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 3/5/2026

  25. 2026-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate Reset on calendar for 3/5/2026

  26. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/4/2026

  27. 2026-02-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 2/26/2026

  28. 2026-02-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 8, Nays 0 PNV 0

  29. 2026-02-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  30. 2026-02-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 2/24/2026

  31. 2026-02-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to State & Local Government Committee

  32. 2026-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Elections & Campaign Finance Subcommittee for 2/17/2026

  33. 2026-01-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate State and Local Government Committee

  34. 2026-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  35. 2026-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Elections & Campaign Finance Subcommittee

  36. 2026-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to State & Local Government Committee

  37. 2026-01-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  38. 2026-01-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  39. 2026-01-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

ON MARCH 9, 2026, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 1513, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #1 clarifies that a radio or television broadcasting station, cable or satellite television operator, streaming or other programming service is not liable under the bill when it is paid to broadcast material containing a deepfake, to the extent
such entity is not responsible for the creation of the deepfake.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 1513
By Zachary

SENATE BILL 1624
By Massey
SB1624
010690
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2,
Chapter 19, relative to the Transparency for
Deepfakes in Political Advertising Act.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. This act is known and may be cited as the "Transparency for Deepfakes in
Political Advertising Act."
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 2-19-120(a), is amended by adding
the following as a new subdivision:
(6)
(A) Such communication, when in audio form, if considered a deepfake
as defined in § 39-17-1902 and impersonating a candidate for elected office
engaging in speech in which the candidate did not in fact engage, shall clearly
state at the beginning and at the end of the communication:
This communication contains fake content impersonating speech
that did not occur.
(B) Such communication, when in video form, if considered a deepfake
as defined in § 39-17-1902 and depicting a candidate for elected office engaging
in action or speech in which the depicted candidate did not in fact engage, shall
clearly state in large letters for the duration of the video:
(i) If the communication includes only video media:
This communication contains fake content depicting
actions that did not occur.

- 2 - 010690

(ii) If the communication includes both audio and video media of a
candidate engaging in action or speech in which the candidate did not
engage:
This communication contains fake content depicting
actions and speech that did not occur.
(C) When the impersonated or depicted candidate is not an incumbent
office holder, subdivisions (a)(6)(A) and (a)(6)(B) apply only if the communication
is distributed within one hundred twenty (120) days of the initiation of voting in an
election in which the candidate for elected office appears on the ballot.
(D) A person or entity who is a broadcaster, host, third-party producer, or
carrier of such communication is not liable under this subdivision (a)(6) unless
the person or entity is responsible for the communication.
(E) An impersonated or depicted candidate for elected office who is the
subject of a deepfake communication as described in this subdivision (a)(6) is
entitled to damages and equitable relief as provided for in § 39-17-1904, with the
exception of § 39-17-1904(c).
SECTION 3. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.