Technology

died · Tennessee · House Mar 23, 2026

HJR 1158: Memorials, Recognition - AT&T, 150th anniversary -

This Tennessee House Joint Resolution honors AT&T's 150th anniversary by commemorating the company's founding and the first telephone call made by Alexander Graham Bell in 1876. The resolution expresses appreciation for AT&T's historical role in advancing telecommunications and its ongoing contributions to connectivity, broadband infrastructure, and economic opportunity in Tennessee. It does not create new laws or regulations but serves as a formal recognition of the company's legacy and impact on communication technology.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill recognizes AT&T's contributions to telecommunications, broadband infrastructure, and economic opportunity, showing positive stance toward technology advancement.75% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted absent

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signed · Tennessee · House May 27, 2025

HB 858: Commerce and Insurance, Dept. of - As enacted, revises law relative to the treatment and coverage of treatment for stage 4 advanced metastatic cancer, blood cancer, metastatic blood cancer, and associated conditions; makes related changes. - Amends TCA Title 8; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71.

HB 858 requires Tennessee's insurance commissioner to study how easily patients and doctors can request exceptions to step therapy rules online. The study will assess whether insurers' processes are accessible without unnecessary barriers for those seeking coverage for cancer treatments. The commissioner must submit findings and recommendations by December 2025. This bill affects insurers and healthcare providers who handle step therapy requests but does not change current coverage requirements. It becomes effective January 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires study to assess accessibility of cancer treatment exceptions, aiming to reduce barriers for patients seeking coverage.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates study of online accessibility for insurance exception requests, promoting digital access in healthcare coverage processes.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

signed · Tennessee · Senate May 15, 2025

SB 102: Sunset Laws - As enacted, extends the Tennessee technology development corporation to June 30, 2027. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 14, Part 2 and Title 4, Chapter 29.

SB 102 extends the operating authority of the Tennessee Technology Development Corporation (TTDC) until June 30, 2027, preventing its automatic termination. This bill directly affects the TTDC, which supports technology-related economic development in Tennessee. The legislation makes technical corrections to Tennessee Code (Title 4, Chapters 14 and 29) by removing outdated references and clarifying the corporation's legal status. The change ensures the TTDC can continue its existing programs without interruption.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyExtends TTDC's authority to continue technology-related economic development programs, ensuring ongoing support for Tennessee's tech sector per bill's purpose.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

signed · Tennessee · Senate May 15, 2025

SB 925: Taxes, Sales - As enacted, sets the end date at June 30, 2027, for the exemption from sales and use tax for purchases and leases of equipment and infrastructure used to produce broadband communications services or provide internet access. - Amends TCA Title 67, Chapter 6, Part 3.

SB 925 extends Tennessee's sales and use tax exemption for broadband equipment and infrastructure from June 30, 2025, to June 30, 2027. The bill directly affects businesses that provide broadband services or internet access by allowing them to continue purchasing and leasing qualifying equipment without paying state sales tax. It amends Tennessee Code Annotated § 67-6-391 to update the exemption's end date and revises the section's title to "Tennessee broadband equipment and services exemption." The law took effect on May 9, 2025, after being signed by the Governor.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExtends sales tax exemption for broadband businesses, providing tax relief per indicators. Directly modifies tax code (TCA §67-6-391) to maintain exemption through 2027.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyExtends tax exemption for broadband infrastructure, reducing costs for providers to expand internet access and services, directly advancing technology infrastructure deployment.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

signed · Tennessee · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 535: Children - As enacted, enacts the "Tennessee Protection of Children Against Sexual Exploitation Act." - Amends TCA Title 24; Title 39; Title 40 and Title 47.

This bill prohibits tech companies (like email or social media platforms) from notifying users when law enforcement searches their data for child sexual exploitation cases. It specifically bans service providers from alerting account holders or unauthorized individuals about search warrants or subpoenas related to these investigations. The law aims to prevent suspects from destroying evidence by alerting them to ongoing police activity. It applies directly to electronic communications services covered under Tennessee law and took effect on May 5, 2025.

Topics ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyProhibits tech companies from notifying users of law enforcement data searches, weakening privacy protections by preventing transparency in data access.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Technology

signed · Tennessee · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 626: Election Laws - As enacted, revises present law relative to voting and county election commissions, such as requiring the commission to publish a notice of the location of the provisional counting board, prohibiting the commission from tabulating any marked ballots submitted via the internet, prohibiting voting machines from being connected to the internet, and making other changes. - Amends TCA Title 2.

SB 626 amends Tennessee's election laws to require county election commissions to publish locations of provisional counting boards and prohibit tabulating marked ballots submitted online. It also bans voting machines from connecting to the internet, directly affecting how counties manage ballot processing and voting technology. The bill makes these specific procedural changes to election administration without altering voter eligibility or ballot access. Signed by the governor on May 5, 2025, it became effective May 13, 2025.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBans internet-connected voting machines and online ballot tabulation to enhance election cybersecurity, directly supporting secure technology use in voting systems.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

signed · Tennessee · Senate May 2, 2025

SB 228: Motor Vehicles, Titling and Registration - As enacted, enacts the "Law Enforcement’s Safer Tennessee Electronic Registration (LESTER) Act," which clarifies that law enforcement is required to accept a digital copy of vehicle registration as proof of registration. - Amends TCA Title 38 and Title 55.

SB 228, the "LESTER Act," requires Tennessee law enforcement to accept digital copies of vehicle registration as valid proof of registration, directly affecting drivers who use digital registration and police officers during traffic stops. It amends Tennessee law to clarify that displaying a digital registration does not grant officers permission to access other contents of a driver's electronic device. The bill also updates terminology from "motor-propelled vehicle" to "motor vehicle" in relevant sections. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill explicitly protects data privacy by prohibiting law enforcement from accessing other device contents when viewing digital registration, aligning with privacy protection indicators.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

signed · Tennessee · House Apr 28, 2025

HB 1316: Driver Licenses - As enacted, prohibits the use of digital driver licenses and digital photo identification licenses for voter identification purposes; regulates the use, retention, and disclosure of data submitted by persons participating in the digital driver license system, including biometric identifiers; prohibits geolocation data from being collected for purposes of the digital driver license system; revises other provisions related to driver licenses. - Amends TCA Section 2-7-112 and Title 55, Chapter 50.

HB 1316 prohibits the use of digital driver licenses or digital photo IDs for voter identification purposes in Tennessee. The bill amends state law to require physical driver licenses for voting verification, while regulating data handling for digital license systems: it bans geolocation tracking, limits data retention to three days, and restricts biometric data collection (like facial scans) to only verifying identity against a physical license photo. These provisions directly affect Tennessee residents using digital driver licenses for non-voting purposes. The law, effective April 24, 2025, also mandates explicit user consent for biometric data and prohibits selling or sharing such data beyond law enforcement needs.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRestricts geolocation, limits data retention to 3 days, and restricts biometric use to verification only, directly protecting data privacy in digital ID systems.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Technology

in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 14, 2025

HB 138: Education - As introduced, creates a special fund to provide grants to local education agencies and public charter schools for the acquisition, retention, or expansion of digital career and technical education curricula through platforms containing comprehensive courses with lesson plans, media rich content and activities, and interactive assessments. - Amends TCA Title 9 and Title 49.

HB 138 establishes a $5 million annual special fund to provide grants to Tennessee local school districts and public charter schools. The fund supports acquiring or expanding digital career and technical education programs that include multimedia lessons, interactive activities, and assessments. Schools must apply through the state education department, which will prioritize applications based on demonstrated need, student impact, and alignment with workforce goals. Unspent funds carry forward annually rather than reverting to the general budget, and the bill requires separate annual appropriations for funding.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $5M annual special fund for education grants, directly increasing public service funding under state budget appropriations.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates $5M annual fund for digital career/technical education grants, expanding curriculum access and workforce-aligned programs through state-funded grants to schools.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill allocates $5M for grants to fund digital career education curricula with multimedia content and interactive assessments, directly advancing technology in education.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

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signed · Tennessee · House Apr 4, 2025

HB 932: Students - As enacted, requires local boards of education and public charter school governing bodies to adopt a policy to prohibit students from using wireless communication devices during instructional time, except in certain circumstances; makes related changes. - Amends TCA Title 49.

HB 932 requires Tennessee public schools to create policies banning student use of phones, tablets, and other wireless devices during class time, except for specific educational purposes, health emergencies, or when required by a student's special education plan (IEP) or 504 plan. The policy must allow teachers to permit device use for learning, let students access devices in emergencies, and ensure parents can be contacted during crises. Schools must publish these policies online and may temporarily withhold devices from students who violate the rules. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, applying to all public schools and charter schools in the state.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates policies restricting student device use during class to reduce distractions and promote learning, directly supporting a focused educational environment per summary.95% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyRestricts student device use in schools, limiting technology access during instruction per bill's prohibition of wireless devices except for specific exceptions.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Technology