Consumer Protection - As introduced, enacts "The Tennessee Safe Stores and Staffed Stores Act;" requires drug and food retail establishments using self-service checkout stations to maintain a minimum staffing ratio, limits self-service transactions to no more than 15 items, and prohibits the purchase of age-restricted or security-tagged merchandise at self-service checkout stations. - Amends TCA Title 47, Chapter 18 and Title 50.

HB 2051, the "Tennessee Safe Stores and Staffed Stores Act," requires drug and food retail stores (over 15,000 sq. ft. for food stores or 85,000 sq. ft. with 10% food sales) using self-checkout to maintain specific staffing ratios and transaction limits. It mandates at least one staffed checkout station for every four self-checkout stations, limits self-checkout to 15 items per transaction, and prohibits purchasing age-restricted items (like alcohol/tobacco) or security-tagged merchandise at self-checkout. Stores must post clear signage about customer rights and assign employees to monitor self-checkout operations continuously. Violations can result in civil penalties of up to $100 per employee per violation, with additional daily penalties for ongoing noncompliance.