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TennesseeSB 1379114th General Assembly (2025-2026)SenateWALLET

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 13; Title 49; Title 68 and Title 71, relative to child care.

Sponsored By: Bo Watson (Republican)

Became Law

Children

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Child care gets first shot at school sites

Beginning July 1, 2025, school districts must list all vacant or underused buildings and send the list to DHS and the Comptroller. Licensed child care agencies in districts without charter schools get first refusal to buy or lease those sites; in districts with charters, they get second refusal. Prices are at or below fair market value based on two appraisals. If a leasing agency’s building is put up for sale, the agency gets the first chance to buy and the price is reduced by past rent. Agencies can ask the Comptroller to audit a district’s list, and the Comptroller may set rules.

Home daycares treated as residential

Beginning July 1, 2025, local governments must treat child care family homes as residential for zoning, land use, and sanitation. This includes single‑family zones. Cities and counties cannot add rules that are stricter than state fire standards or that do not apply to other homes. State fire marshal safety and building codes still apply. Local officials may still manage traffic and parking next to the home.

Leasing school space: costs and rights

Beginning July 1, 2025, a child care agency that leases a listed school building can use it for child care. The agency must pay utilities and do routine maintenance, while the school system covers major repairs or capital work, with possible rent credits. If the district chooses to sell that building, the agency gets the first chance to buy at fair market value, minus the rent already paid. If the agency closes or stops using the site, the building goes back on the district’s vacant or underused list, and if the agency had bought the property, the district has the first chance to buy it back at fair market value.

Easier provisional licenses at school sites

Beginning July 1, 2025, DHS does not deny a provisional license to a child care program at a school when the school’s fire inspection and facilities meet DHS provisional standards for the same ages. The law defines a host school as a public or private school with an unaffiliated child care program on site.

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Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Bo Watson

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Raumesh Akbari

    Democrat • Senate

  • Ferrell Haile

    Republican • Senate

  • London Lamar

    Democrat • Senate

  • Charlane Oliver

    Democrat • Senate

  • John Stevens

    Republican • Senate

  • Brent Taylor

    Republican • Senate

  • Ken Yager

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 123 • No: 10

House vote • 4/14/2025

FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/14/2025

Yes: 86 • No: 9

Senate vote • 3/31/2025

FLOOR VOTE: as Amended Third Consideration 3/31/2025

Yes: 28 • No: 1

Senate vote • 3/18/2025

SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

Yes: 9 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Pub. Ch. 276

    4/29/2025

  2. Effective date(s) 07/01/2025

    4/29/2025

  3. Signed by Governor.

    4/24/2025Senate

  4. Signed by H. Speaker

    4/21/2025House

  5. Transmitted to Governor for action.

    4/21/2025Senate

  6. Signed by Senate Speaker

    4/17/2025Senate

  7. Enrolled and ready for signatures

    4/16/2025Senate

  8. Subst. for comp. HB.

    4/14/2025House

  9. Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA0262)

    4/14/2025House

  10. Passed H., Ayes 86, Nays 9, PNV 0

    4/14/2025House

  11. Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.

    4/3/2025House

  12. Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0148)

    3/31/2025Senate

  13. Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 28, Nays 1

    3/31/2025Senate

  14. Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

    3/31/2025Senate

  15. Sponsor(s) Added.

    3/31/2025Senate

  16. Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 3/31/2025

    3/28/2025Senate

  17. Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 9, Nays 0 PNV 0

    3/18/2025Senate

  18. Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/18/2025

    3/17/2025Senate

  19. Sponsor(s) Added.

    3/13/2025Senate

  20. Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/18/2025

    3/12/2025Senate

  21. Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee

    2/12/2025Senate

  22. Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

    2/10/2025Senate

  23. Filed for introduction

    2/6/2025Senate

Bill Text

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