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SB2061 • 2026

Children

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 9, Chapter 4, Part 2, relative to funding for the protection of children.

Children Education Technology
Active

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

Sponsor
Watson, Hicks G
Last action
2026-03-09
Official status
Sponsor(s) Added.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details on how the fund will be used beyond what is listed in the official text.

Children's Digital Protection Fund Act

This bill establishes a fund within the state treasury to support children's mental health and safety online by using money from legal claims related to digital technology.

What This Bill Does

  • Creates the Children's Digital Protection Fund within the state treasury.
  • Requires that money received from legal settlements or lawsuits about the effects of social media, online gaming platforms, or other digital technologies on minors' mental health be deposited into this fund.
  • Specifies how the money in the fund can be used for mental health supports and treatment services for minors, research related to the impact of social media and technology on minors' mental health, criminal and civil law enforcement resources addressing minors' exploitation through technology, education about the impact of digital technologies on minors' mental health, allocation to the K-12 mental health endowment fund, and suicide prevention for minors.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Minors who use social media or online gaming platforms.
  • Government agencies involved in protecting children's mental health and safety online.

Terms To Know

Children's Digital Protection Fund
A special fund created by the state to support programs that protect minors from harmful effects of digital technology.
Mental Health Supports
Services and treatments aimed at helping children who are struggling with their mental health due to using social media or other technologies.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how much money will be in the fund.
  • It is unclear what specific actions will be taken based on the report submitted by the department of finance and administration.

Amendments

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

Amendment 1-0 to HB2270

Plain English: The amendment creates a new fund called the 'Children's Digital Protection Fund' that will receive money from legal settlements related to social media and technology impacts on minors' mental health.

  • Establishes a new fund within the state treasury named the Children's Digital Protection Fund.
  • Specifies that funds received by the state through legal claims concerning the effects of digital technologies on minors’ mental health must be deposited into this fund.
  • Outlines specific uses for the money in the fund, including mental health supports and research related to social media impacts on minors.
  • The exact amount of funds that will go into the Children's Digital Protection Fund is not specified and depends on future legal claims.
Amendment 1-0 to SB2061

Plain English: The amendment creates a new fund called the 'Children's Digital Protection Fund' which will receive money from legal settlements and be used to support various programs related to minors' mental health and safety online.

  • Establishes a new fund within the state treasury named the Children's Digital Protection Fund.
  • Specifies that funds received through legal claims about social media or digital technology effects on minors’ mental health will go into this fund.
  • Outlines how money in the fund can be spent, including for mental health services, research, law enforcement, education, and suicide prevention for minors.
  • The exact amount of funds that will be deposited is not specified as it depends on future legal claims and their resolution.
  • Details about how the fund will be managed day-to-day are not provided in this amendment text.
Amendment 2-0 to SB2061

Plain English: The amendment creates a new fund called the 'Children's Digital Protection Fund' that will receive money from legal settlements related to social media and technology impacts on minors' mental health.

  • Establishes a new fund within the state treasury named the Children's Digital Protection Fund.
  • Specifies that funds received through legal claims concerning the effects of digital technologies on minors’ mental health must be deposited into this fund.
  • Outlines specific uses for the money in the fund, including mental health supports and research related to social media impacts on minors.
  • The exact amount of funds that will go into the Children's Digital Protection Fund is not specified and depends on future legal claims and settlements.
  • Details about how the attorney general determines which cases are relevant for depositing money into this fund are not fully explained in the amendment.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2026

  2. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed behind the budget

  3. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 3/25/2026

  4. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee

  5. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

  6. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/18/2026

  7. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Judiciary Committee to 3/18/2026

  8. 2026-03-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  9. 2026-03-09 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  10. 2026-03-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  11. 2026-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

  12. 2026-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  13. 2026-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 31, Nays 0

  14. 2026-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - SA0519)

  15. 2026-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 2 - SA0546)

  16. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/11/2026

  17. 2026-03-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 3/5/2026

  18. 2026-03-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 11, Nays 0 PNV 0

  19. 2026-03-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Judiciary Committee

  20. 2026-02-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  21. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Children and Family Affairs Subcommittee for 3/3/2026

  22. 2026-02-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 3/3/2026

  23. 2026-02-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee Ayes 9, Nays 0 PNV 0

  24. 2026-02-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 2/24/2026

  25. 2026-02-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 2/24/2026

  26. 2026-02-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Children and Family Affairs Subcommittee to 3/3/2026

  27. 2026-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 2/17/2026

  28. 2026-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Children and Family Affairs Subcommittee for 2/17/2026

  29. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee

  30. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Children and Family Affairs Subcommittee

  31. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Judiciary Committee

  32. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  33. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  34. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  35. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

ON MARCH 5, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #2 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 2061, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #2 rewrites the bill to, instead, establish the children's digital protection fund ("fund") within the state treasury. Moneys received by the state for the resolution of legal claims concerning the effects of the use of a social media platform
, an online gaming platform, or other digital technology on the mental health and well being of minors must be deposited into the fund. The attorney general must determine the amount of the net recovery from such claims and direct the deposit of that amo
un
t to the fund. The fund may also receive moneys from other sources. The state treasurer must invest moneys in the fund, and any interest accruing on such investments and any deposits into the fund must be credited to the fund.

This amendment requires moneys in the fund to be used only for the following purposes:



Mental health supports, programs, and treatment services for minors
.


Research related to the impact of social media and technology on the mental health and wellbeing of minors
.


Criminal and civil law enforcement resources for addressing the impact of social media and technology on the mental health and wellbeing of minors
.


Criminal and civil law enforcement resources for addressing the exploitation of minors through technology
.


Education relating to the impact of social media and technology on the mental health and wellbeing of minors
.


Allocation to, and deposits of, funds in the K-12 mental health endowment fund.


Suicide prevention for minors.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 2270
By Hicks G

SENATE BILL 2061
By Watson
SB2061
012058
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 9,
Chapter 4, Part 2, relative to funding for the
protection of children.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 9, Chapter 4, Part 2, is amended by
adding the following new section:
On or before January 15, 2027, the department of finance and administration, in
consultation with the attorney general and reporter or other departments or agencies of
state or local government, is urged to study and submit a report to the general assembly
on state funding sources derived from litigation or investigations in this state that are
used to support the protection of children's mental health and safety online, including,
but not limited to, any civil penalties recovered by the state in any actions brought
pursuant to the Protecting Children from Social Media Act, compiled in title 47, chapter
18, part 57, or other laws. If such study is conducted, then the report shall include the
description of the manner in which the funds are being used.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.