Law / United States / Tennessee
AI-generated child sexual abuse material, tool possession and distribution offense
Tenn. Code Ann. Title 39, Ch. 17, Part 10 (Pub. Ch. 257, 2025)
A citation is an address, not a summary. The first part names the law; what follows narrows it to the exact section, article or paragraph.
In force since 1 July 2025.
An AI prohibited practices rule binding public and private bodies.
As of 6 September 2026.
What it requires
- Do not knowingly possess, distribute, or produce technology, software, or digital tools designed for the purpose of creating AI-generated or other material depicting a minor engaged in sexual activity or simulated sexual activity that is patently offensive.
If you get it wrong
Criminal exposureYes
Criminal exposure note
Possession is a Class E felony (1 to 6 years, fine up to $3,000), distribution a Class C felony (2 to 12 years, fine up to $5,000), and production a Class B felony (3 to 15 years, fine up to $10,000).
Penalty structure
The Public Chapter itself states only the felony class for each tier; the fine ranges (possession up to $3,000, distribution up to $5,000, production up to $10,000) are stated in the General Assembly's own bill summary for SB 741.
- Rule
- Fixed only
- As of
- 6 September 2026
- Currency
- USD
- Fixed cap
- 10,000
What it reaches
Obligation class
Prohibition
What this law does
Drafted with AI from the cited sources under the direction of UnGovr staff. UnGovr holds editorial responsibility for this page.
Adds a new section to Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 10 (Sexual Offenses) making it an offense for a person to knowingly possess, distribute, or produce technology, software, or digital tools designed for the purpose of creating material that includes a minor engaged in sexual activity or simulated sexual activity that is patently offensive, reaching an AI image-generation tool purpose-built for that use.
Possession is a Class E felony, distribution a Class C felony, and production a Class B felony; a court weighs factors including the defendant's own statements, advertising, and instructional materials in deciding whether a tool was so designed. The enacting Public Chapter leaves the new provision's codified section number to be assigned by the Tennessee Code Commission.
When LexLint raises it
generates_content
Read the law
official signed act text, Public Chapter 257 (2025), Tennessee Secretary of State