HB 222 Tennessee House · 114th Regular Session (2025-2026)

Civil Procedure - As introduced, specifies the damages that may be awarded against a person or commercial entity that publishes or distributes a website containing a substantial portion of content harmful to minors includes actual damages, nominal damages, and punitive damages; specifies that a person or entity that violates certain obscenity laws may be found civilly liable to an injured party for nominal damages, actual damages, court costs, reasonable attorney fees, and punitive damages; provides that the attorney general and reporter may issue guidance to assist commercial entities in complying with age requirements for websites containing a substantial portion of content that is harmful to minors. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 9; Title 47, Chapter 18 and Chapter 1021 of the Public Acts of 2024.

HB 222 amends Tennessee law to allow civil lawsuits against commercial entities that publish websites containing content harmful to minors, enabling victims to seek actual damages, nominal damages, punitive damages (if applicable), court costs, and attorney fees. The bill specifies that violating obscenity laws related to minors' content can lead to civil liability for these same damages and requires the attorney general to issue guidance helping websites comply with age restrictions for such content. Additionally, the law permits these cases to be certified as class actions under Tennessee's civil procedure rules.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 27, 2025 Last action Mar 26, 2025
Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
15
Key actions
9
Committee
11
Mar 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/26/2025
lower
Mar 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
Action Def. in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee to Final Calendar #2
lower
Mar 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
Action Def. in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee to 3/12/2025
lower
Mar 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/12/2025
lower
Feb 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Action Def. in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee to 3/5/25
lower
Feb 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/5/2025
lower
Feb 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 2/26/2025
lower
Feb 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
Taken off notice for cal in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee of Judiciary Committee
lower
Feb 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 2/12/2025
lower
Feb 3, 2025
Committee
P2C, ref. to Judiciary Committee
lower
Feb 3, 2025
Committee
Assigned to s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee
lower
Jan 27, 2025
Introduced
Intro., P1C.
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Jody Barrett
Jody Barrett
RRepublican
TN
69