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TennesseeSB 1346114th General Assembly (2025-2026)SenateWALLET

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 28 and Title 39, Chapter 17, relative to the unauthorized use of deepfake or actual likeness.

Sponsored By: Jeff Yarbro (Democrat)

Became Law

Criminal Offenses

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Sue when intimate deepfakes are shared

Beginning July 1, 2025, you can sue if someone intentionally shares an intimate digital image of you without consent and knew or recklessly ignored that you did not agree. Consent to make is not consent to share; sharing consent must be a plain‑language written, signed agreement that describes the image and any work it appears in. Courts can order the person to stop showing or sharing the image, and you may ask to use a pseudonym when seeking these orders. If you win, you can choose your damages: your actual losses or $150,000 in set damages, plus the defendant’s profits, possible punitive damages, and your legal costs. A parent, guardian, estate representative, or court‑appointed person (not the defendant) can sue for a minor, incapacitated, or deceased person. You cannot sue for good‑faith reports to law enforcement, disclosures in a legal proceeding, or disclosures reasonably meant to help you, and disclaimers are not a defense.

Criminal penalties for harmful deepfakes

Beginning July 1, 2025, it is a crime to share, threaten to share, or ask others to share an intimate digital image to harass, threaten, alarm, or harm money or reputation, or when you know or recklessly ignore that it will cause harm. Most violations are a Class E felony. The offense is a Class C felony if the conduct could affect a government proceeding, including an election, or help cause violence. A disclaimer that the image was unauthorized or that the person did not participate is not a defense.

Protections for platforms that remove images

Beginning July 1, 2025, online platforms and telecom services are not liable, civilly or criminally, when they act in good faith to remove or limit access to intimate digital images or enable others to do so. They are also not liable for content posted by another person in violation of this law.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Jeff Yarbro

    Democrat • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Raumesh Akbari

    Democrat • Senate

  • Paul Bailey

    Republican • Senate

  • Janice Bowling

    Republican • Senate

  • Heidi Campbell

    Democrat • Senate

  • Ferrell Haile

    Republican • Senate

  • Shane Reeves

    Republican • Senate

  • Paul Rose

    Republican • Senate

  • Dawn White

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 134 • No: 0

House vote • 4/21/2025

FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/21/2025

Yes: 94 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/15/2025

FLOOR VOTE: as Amended Third Consideration 4/15/2025

Yes: 32 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/2/2025

SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

Yes: 8 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Pub. Ch. 466

    5/15/2025

  2. Effective date(s) 07/01/2025

    5/15/2025

  3. Signed by Governor.

    5/9/2025Senate

  4. Transmitted to Governor for action.

    5/1/2025Senate

  5. Signed by H. Speaker

    4/30/2025House

  6. Signed by Senate Speaker

    4/29/2025Senate

  7. Enrolled and ready for signatures

    4/28/2025Senate

  8. Subst. for comp. HB.

    4/21/2025House

  9. Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA0336)

    4/21/2025House

  10. Passed H., Ayes 94, Nays 0, PNV 0

    4/21/2025House

  11. Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.

    4/16/2025House

  12. Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0349)

    4/15/2025Senate

  13. Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 32, Nays 0

    4/15/2025Senate

  14. Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

    4/15/2025Senate

  15. Sponsor(s) Added.

    4/15/2025Senate

  16. Sponsor(s) Added.

    4/14/2025Senate

  17. Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/15/2025

    4/14/2025Senate

  18. Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/15/2025

    4/11/2025Senate

  19. Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 8, Nays 0 PNV 0

    4/2/2025Senate

  20. Sponsor(s) Added.

    4/1/2025Senate

  21. Action deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 4/2/2025

    4/1/2025Senate

  22. Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 4/2/2025

    4/1/2025Senate

  23. Action deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 4/1/2025

    3/31/2025Senate

  24. Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 4/1/2025

    3/31/2025Senate

  25. Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/31/2025

    3/26/2025Senate

Bill Text

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