Tennessee Health Care AI Act (SB 1580)
Bars AI systems from being marketed as capable of acting as a qualified mental health professional. Narrowly drafted at the marketing claim rather than the technology, and one of the few 2026 AI laws with a stated per-violation penalty.
Key dates
- Apr 1, 2026Signed by Governor Lee
- Jul 1, 2026Takes effect
Risk areas addressed
Who it applies to
Anyone who develops or deploys an AI system and advertises or represents to the public that it can act as a qualified mental health professional. Clinician-supervised use of AI as a tool is untouched.
Penalties & enforcement
Unfair or deceptive acts under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act, up to $5,000 per violation, with an express private right of action.
Enforced by: Tennessee Attorney General, plus a private right of action
Tennessee SB 1580 is enforced by Tennessee Attorney General, plus a private right of action. Its obligations are already live, so a gap is a present exposure rather than a future one. In practice that means knowing which of your AI systems fall in scope in healthcare, regulated professions and generative AI, holding assessments that speak to transparency, safety & robustness and consumer protection, and being able to produce that evidence on request.