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TennesseeHB 1513114th General Assembly (2025-2026)HouseWALLET

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2, Chapter 19, relative to the Transparency for Deepfakes in Political Advertising Act.

Sponsored By: Jason Zachary (Republican)

Became Law

Election Laws

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Candidates can sue over deepfakes

Starting July 1, 2026, a candidate who is impersonated or shown in a qualifying deepfake can seek money damages and court‑ordered relief under Tennessee’s deepfake remedies law. Subsection (c) of that remedies law does not apply.

Clear labels on deepfake political ads

Starting July 1, 2026, deepfake audio of a candidate must say at the start and end: "This communication contains fake content impersonating speech that did not occur." Deepfake videos of a candidate must show, in large letters for the whole video, either: "This communication contains fake content depicting actions that did not occur" (video-only) or "This communication contains fake content depicting actions and speech that did not occur" (audio and video). For non‑incumbent candidates, these labels are required only if the ad is sent within 120 days of the start of voting in that election. These rules apply to communications that meet the state’s deepfake definition.

Limited liability for platforms and broadcasters

Starting July 1, 2026, online hosts, third‑party producers, and internet service providers are not liable just for providing access, connection, transmission, downloading, intermediate storage, or access software for deepfake content if they did not create it. Radio and TV stations, cable and satellite operators, and paid streaming or other programming services are also not liable when they are paid to air material with a deepfake, if they did not create it. These protections cover only those intermediary roles and do not protect anyone who helped make the deceptive deepfake.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Jason Zachary

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • John Ray Clemmons

    Democrat • House

  • Elaine Davis

    Republican • House

  • Jake McCalmon

    Republican • House

  • Jason Powell

    Democrat • House

  • Lowell Russell

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 153 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/12/2026

FLOOR VOTE: Third Consideration 3/12/2026

Yes: 33 • No: 0

House vote • 3/9/2026

FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 3/9/2026

Yes: 91 • No: 0

House vote • 3/9/2026

HOUSE CALENDAR & RULES COMMITTEE

Yes: 0 • No: 0

House vote • 3/4/2026

HOUSE STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE

Yes: 22 • No: 0

House vote • 2/17/2026

HOUSE ELECTIONS & CAMPAIGN FINANCE SUBCOMMITTEE

Yes: 7 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Pub. Ch. 625

    3/30/2026

  2. Effective date(s) 07/01/2026

    3/30/2026

  3. Signed by Governor.

    3/26/2026

  4. Signed by Senate Speaker

    3/17/2026Senate

  5. Transmitted to Governor for his action.

    3/17/2026House

  6. Signed by H. Speaker

    3/16/2026House

  7. Received from House, Passed on First Consideration

    3/12/2026Senate

  8. Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.

    3/12/2026Senate

  9. Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - SA0510)

    3/12/2026Senate

  10. Passed Senate, Ayes 33, Nays 0

    3/12/2026Senate

  11. Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.

    3/12/2026House

  12. Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.

    3/10/2026House

  13. H. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA0611)

    3/9/2026House

  14. Passed H., as am., Ayes 91, Nays 0, PNV 1

    3/9/2026House

  15. Sponsor(s) Added.

    3/9/2026House

  16. H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 3/9/2026

    3/5/2026House

  17. Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee

    3/4/2026House

  18. Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 3/5/2026

    3/4/2026House

  19. Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/4/2026

    2/25/2026House

  20. Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to State & Local Government Committee

    2/17/2026House

  21. Placed on s/c cal Elections & Campaign Finance Subcommittee for 2/17/2026

    2/11/2026House

  22. P2C, ref. to State & Local Government Committee

    1/14/2026House

  23. Assigned to s/c Elections & Campaign Finance Subcommittee

    1/14/2026House

  24. Intro., P1C.

    1/13/2026House

  25. Filed for introduction

    1/12/2026House

Bill Text

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