Tennessee Draws a Line: New Law Bars AI from Posing as Mental Health Professionals
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...