Committee advances bill to create Children's Digital Protection Fund to Finance, Ways and Means

House Bill 22-70 would create a Children's Digital Protection Fund (CDPF) to allow the General Assembly to appropriate proceeds recovered in litigation against digital companies for services and programs to protect children’s mental health and safety. The sponsor told the committee the fund could support mental-health services, suicide-prevention initiatives, research on social media's effects on children, law enforcement resources to combat digital exploitation, parent and school education, and a K–12 mental-health endowment.

Sponsor remarks noted the Tennessee Attorney General’s ongoing investigations and the potential for significant proceeds from settlements or judgments. After debate and adoption of an amendment, the committee voted 13 ayes, 0 nos, with two present not voting, to send the bill to Finance, Ways and Means.