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.

SB 2001, "The Tennessee Safe Stores and Staffed Stores Act," mandates staffing and transaction rules for large drug and food retail stores using self-checkout. It requires stores over 15,000 sq. ft. (food) or 85,000 sq. ft. (with 10% food sales) to maintain a 1:4 ratio of staffed to self-checkout stations, limit self-checkout to 15 items per transaction, and prohibit age-restricted or security-tagged items (like alcohol, tobacco, or tagged merchandise) from being purchased via 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 $1,000 per employee per day, with protections against retaliation for employees reporting noncompliance.