Compliance Stuff

Tennessee has joined an increasing number of states specifically regulating use of AI in the mental healthcare space. In particular, Tennessee recently enacted Senate Bill 1580 (the “Bill”), which provides that a person who develops or deploys AI in the mental healthcare space may not advertise or represent to the public that the AI is or is able to act as a qualified mental health professional .[1] Failure to comply with the Bill carries serious risks, with the Bill specifying that violations constitute deceptive trade practices under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act and authorizing civil penalties up to $5,000 per violation.[2] The Bill is significantly abbreviated when compared to legislation in other states, such as Illinois,[3] Nevada,[4] and Utah.[5] For example, Nevada prohibits the advertisement of AI as being capable of providing professional mental or behavioral health care, and a chatbot or other avatar from providing such care.[6] Similarly, Utah requires that mental ...

On April 1, 2026, Governor Bill Lee signed  Senate Bill 1580  into law, making Tennessee among the first states to specifically regulate how AI can be marketed and used in the mental health space. The new law takes effect July 1, 2026. What Does the New Law Do? The new law is short and straightforward, providing that a person who develops or deploys an artificial intelligence system cannot advertise or represent to the public that such a system is, or is able to act as, a qualified mental health professional. Artificial intelligence  is broadly defined to mean “models and systems capable of performing functions generally associated with human intelligence, including reasoning and learning.”  Qualified mental health professionals are  defined in existing Tennessee mental health law to include certain licensed psychiatrists, psychologists, psychological examiners, social workers, and marital and family therapists. The new law establishes a private right of action...