TennesseeSB 2041114th General Assembly (2025-2026)Senate

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 28 and Title 39, Chapter 17, relative to unlawful exposure.

Sponsored By: Sponsor information unavailable

Signed by Governor

Remedies and Special Proceedings

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

New lawsuits over unlawful intimate image sharing

Beginning July 1, 2026, Tennessee allows people depicted in unlawfully distributed intimate images to sue for claims arising on or after that date. Covered images include photos, videos, and social media broadcasts showing an identifiable person's intimate parts or sexually explicit activity. Distribution includes transferring, publishing, disclosing, or making an image accessible. Courts can award the defendant's financial gain, plus either actual damages—including emotional distress—or $150,000 in set damages. They can also award punitive damages under Tennessee law, reasonable attorney fees, and other reasonable court-case costs. Courts can issue temporary or permanent orders stopping display or distribution, allow a made-up name, and hold private proceedings. Agreeing to create an image does not mean agreeing to distribute it. Distribution consent must be written in plain language, knowingly and voluntarily signed, and generally describe the image. Lawsuits exclude sharing the defendant proves was done in good faith to or by law enforcement while reporting or investigating unlawful activity or unsolicited or unwelcome conduct. Good-faith sharing in legal proceedings, or reasonably intended to help the depicted person, is also excluded. A disclaimer saying the sharing was unauthorized is not a defense.

Service providers protected from intimate image lawsuits

For claims arising on or after July 1, 2026, the new civil lawsuit rule limits service providers' liability. These protections cover interactive computer services, information services, and telecommunications services. Providers are not liable for voluntary, good-faith steps to block access to intimate images or for providing tools to restrict access. They also are not liable under this rule for unlawful content provided by another person. These protections limit when a depicted person can recover money from a provider.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Cosponsors

Todd Gardenhire
Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 41 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/2/2026

FLOOR VOTE: Motion to Adopt 3/2/2026

Yes: 32 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/24/2026

SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

Yes: 9 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

Effective date(s) 07/01/2026
4/28/2026
Pub. Ch. 712
4/28/2026
Signed by Governor.
4/14/2026Senate
Transmitted to Governor for action.
4/2/2026Senate
Signed by H. Speaker
4/2/2026House
Signed by Senate Speaker
4/1/2026Senate
Enrolled and ready for signatures
4/1/2026Senate
Passed H., Ayes 82, Nays 1, PNV 10
3/30/2026House
Subst. for comp. HB.
3/30/2026House
Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.
3/5/2026House
Engrossed; ready for transmission to House
3/2/2026Senate
Passed Senate, Ayes 32, Nays 0
3/2/2026Senate
Placed on Senate Consent Calendar 2 for 3/2/2026
2/27/2026Senate
Sponsor(s) Added.
2/27/2026Senate
Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee
2/24/2026Senate
Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 2/24/2026
2/18/2026Senate
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee
2/5/2026Senate
Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
2/2/2026Senate
Filed for introduction
1/22/2026Senate

Bill Text

Enrolled / Public Chapter
PDF
Fiscal Note
PDF
Introduced
PDF

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation