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SB2251 • 2026

Criminal Offenses

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 8; Title 12; Title 13; Title 29; Title 39; Title 45; Title 47 and Title 67, relative to virtual currency kiosks.

Crime
Active

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

Sponsor
Johnson, Sexton
Last action
2026-03-16
Official status
Companion House Bill substituted
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on enforcement mechanisms or penalties beyond classifying violations as a Class A misdemeanor.

Law Against Virtual Currency Kiosks

This bill makes it illegal for anyone to install or operate virtual currency kiosks in Tennessee.

What This Bill Does

  • Defines what a 'virtual currency kiosk' is, which includes machines that exchange digital money for cash or bank credit.
  • Makes it against the law for someone to install or operate a virtual currency kiosk in Tennessee.
  • Says that breaking this rule is a Class A misdemeanor.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who own, operate, or manage virtual currency kiosks.
  • Businesses and property owners where these machines might be placed.

Terms To Know

Virtual Currency Kiosk
A machine that allows people to exchange digital money for cash or bank credit.
Class A Misdemeanor
A serious crime that can lead to jail time and fines.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify the consequences of breaking this law beyond classifying it as a Class A misdemeanor.
  • It is unclear how enforcement will be carried out or who will enforce these new rules.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Governor.

  2. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Transmitted to Governor for his action.

  3. 2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Senate Speaker

  4. 2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by H. Speaker

  5. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.

  6. 2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Companion House Bill substituted

  7. 2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  8. 2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate, Ayes 32, Nays 0

  9. 2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.

  10. 2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Received from House, Passed on First Consideration

  11. 2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.

  12. 2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  13. 2026-03-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Consent Calendar 2 for 3/16/2026

  14. 2026-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  15. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  16. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  17. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee

  18. 2026-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee

  19. 2026-03-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  20. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  21. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  22. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  23. 2026-03-03 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  24. 2026-03-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  25. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  26. 2026-02-24 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  27. 2026-02-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor change.

  28. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  29. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Banking & Consumer Affairs Subcommittee

  30. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Commerce Committee

  31. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  32. 2026-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  33. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  34. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
HOUSE BILL 2505
By Sexton

SENATE BILL 2251
By Johnson
SB2251
012307
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4;
Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 8; Title 12; Title 13;
Title 29; Title 39; Title 45; Title 47 and Title 67,
relative to virtual currency kiosks.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 45, Chapter 16, is amended by adding
the following as a new part:
45-16-201.
As used in this part:
(1) "Electronic terminal":
(A) Means an electronic device through which a person may
initiate an electronic fund transfer to access the person's deposit, share,
or other accounts or credit facility; and
(B) Includes an automated teller machine, cash dispensing
machine, point of sale terminal, or other cash, debit, stored value, script,
or cash equivalent device;
(2) "Person" means an individual or entity;
(3) "Virtual currency" means a digital representation of value used as a
medium of exchange, a unit of account, or a store of value, but does not have
legal tender status as recognized by the United States government;
(4) "Virtual currency kiosk" means an electronic terminal acting as a
mechanical agent of the virtual currency kiosk operator to enable the virtual
currency kiosk operator to facilitate the exchange of virtual currency for money,
bank credit, or other virtual currency, including by:

- 2 - 012307

(A) Connecting directly to a separate virtual currency exchange
that performs the actual virtual currency transmission; or
(B) Drawing upon the virtual currency in the possession of the
electronic terminal's operator; and
(5) "Virtual currency kiosk operator" means a person that:
(A) Engages in virtual currency business activity via an electronic
terminal located in this state or a person that owns, operates, or manages
an electronic terminal located in this state through which virtual currency
business activity is offered;
(B) Knowingly permits the use or installation of a virtual currency
kiosk on property owned, leased, or controlled by the person; or
(C) Owns a virtual kiosk that is located or operated in this state.
45-16-202.
(a) It is an offense for a virtual currency kiosk operator or other person to
knowingly install or allow installation of, permit, place, or otherwise operate a virtual
currency kiosk in this state.
(b) A violation of subsection (a) is a Class A misdemeanor.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it, and
applies to acts occurring on or after that date.