Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official PDF posted by the Tennessee General Assembly, fetched 2026-09-25. Page and line markers are part of the official record; nothing is edited or removed. This is the chaptered version. The official bill page.
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PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 19
SENATE BILL NO. 171
By Massey, Reeves, Yager, Akbari, Briggs, Campbell, Jackson, Lamar, White
Substituted for: House Bill No. 182
By Littleton, Grills, Rudder, McCalmon, Davis, Alexander, Burkhart, Terry, Vital, Capley, Stevens,
Leatherwood, Hardaway, Camper, Hemmer, Powers, Todd
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 62, Chapter 38, relative to The Ink of Hope Act.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. This act is known and may be cited as the "The Ink of Hope Act."
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 62-38-204(e), is amended by designating
the current language as subdivision (e)(1) and adding the following new subdivision (e)(2):
(2) In addition to the requirement of subdivision (e)(1 ), each tattoo operator or tattoo
artist shall, before receiving a permit to operate a tattoo establishment or to apply a tattoo,
complete up to one (1) hour of online or in-person training, at no cost to the applicant, by a
nonprofit organization approved by the Tennessee human trafficking advisory council that
focuses on how to recognize the signs of human trafficking, how to respond to those signs,
how to refer a client to resources for victims of human trafficking, and reporting signs of human
trafficking to the Tennessee Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline.
SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 62-38-204(f), is amended by deleting "local
health department" and substituting "local health department and must include questions on
recognizing and reporting signs of human trafficking".
SECTION 4. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 62-38-204, is amended by adding the
following as a new subsection:
( ) A person who holds a license under this part as of December 31, 2025, and who is
renewing the license pursuant to this part shall successfully complete by December 31, 2028,
up to one (1) hour of online or in-person training, at no cost to the applicant, by a nonprofit
organization approved by the Tennessee human trafficking advisory council that focuses on
how to recognize the signs of human trafficking, how to respond to those signs, how to refer a
client to resources for victims of human trafficking, and reporting signs of human trafficking to
the Tennessee Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline. If the person fails to complete the
course by December 31, 2028, then the department shall render the license invalid until the
person complies with this subsection ( ).
SECTION 5. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 62, Chapter 38, Part 2, is amended by adding
the following as a new section:
(a) A person who holds a license under this part, and the employer of that person, who
responds to signs of human trafficking with a client, refers a client to resources for victims of
human trafficking, or fails to respond or refer is not civilly or criminally liable for those actions
or inactions. •
(b) A person who holds a lice~se under this part, and the employer of that person, who
responds, refers, or fails to respond or refer as described in subsection (a) is not subject to
any action by the department because of those actions or inactions.
SB 171
SECTION 6. For the purpose of promulgating rules, this act takes effect upon becoming a
law, the public welfare requiring it. For all other purposes, this act takes effect January 1, 2026, the
public welfare requiring it.
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SENATE BILL NO. 171
PASSED: March 3, 2025
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\ RANDY M~ALLY
SPEAKER OF THE SENATE
CAMEROfti!M:XTON,SPEAKER
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
yt;J, ma APPROVED this /{).U. day of 2025
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BILL LEE, GOVERNOREvery fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.