# Tennessee HB 2081: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 37; Title 38; Title 39 and Title 40, relative to abuse of children. Tennessee HB 2081, AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 37; Title 38; Title 39 and Title 40, relative to abuse of children., is a 114th General Assembly (2025-2026) House bill sponsored by no sponsor on record; status signed, last action 2026-05-26 (Effective date(s) 05/19/2026, 07/01/2026, 01/01/2027) (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TN-HB2081-2025-2026 - As of: 2026-11-01 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Tennessee HB 2081 - State: Tennessee - Session: 114th General Assembly (2025-2026) - Title: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 37; Title 38; Title 39 and Title 40, relative to abuse of children. - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-01-23 - Last action: 2026-05-26, Effective date(s) 05/19/2026, 07/01/2026, 01/01/2027 - Sponsors: no sponsor on record - Cosponsors: 1 - Subjects: Children - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 8 (189 yes, 3 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 3 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Strangulation added to child abuse and sentencing laws: benefit, medium. Beginning July 1, 2026, state law treats strangulation as child abuse and as an aggravating factor at sentencing. Prosecutors and judges can consider strangulation for tougher penalties. This strengthens protections for children and accountability for abusers. - Stronger child abuse commission oversight: benefit, low. The law adds two commission members: the mental health commissioner (or designee) and an at‑large child advocate chosen by the co‑chairs. It clarifies who appoints these new seats. It also makes clear the statute covers providing services to dependent and neglected youth, not just child protective… - Court orders for infants with NAS: mixed, medium. If a child under one is found dependent and neglected and has neonatal abstinence syndrome diagnosed by a licensed doctor, the court can order health‑care compliance records. You must show proof of well‑child visits and shots on the pediatric schedule until age one. The court can also order regular… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Cosponsor: Yusuf Hakeem (Democrat), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-04-22 | Senate | FLOOR VOTE: Third Consideration 4/22/2026 | pass | 30 | 0 | | | 2026-04-21 | House | FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/21/2026 | pass | 86 | 2 | | | 2026-04-20 | House | HOUSE CALENDAR & RULES COMMITTEE | fail | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-04-17 | House | HOUSE FINANCE, WAYS, AND MEANS COMMITTEE | pass | 26 | 0 | | | 2026-04-17 | House | HOUSE FINANCE, WAYS, AND MEANS SUBCOMMITTEE | pass | 13 | 0 | | | 2026-04-06 | House | HOUSE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS COMMITTEE | pass | 11 | 0 | | | 2026-04-01 | House | HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE | pass | 14 | 1 | | | 2026-03-25 | House | HOUSE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SUBCOMMITTEE | pass | 9 | 0 | | ## Actions (35) - 2026-05-26: Effective date(s) 05/19/2026, 07/01/2026, 01/01/2027 - 2026-05-26: Pub. Ch. 1003 - 2026-05-19: Signed by Governor. - 2026-05-07: Transmitted to Governor for his action. (House) - 2026-05-05: Signed by Senate Speaker (Senate) - 2026-04-30: Signed by H. Speaker (House) - 2026-04-28: Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker. (House) - 2026-04-22: Passed Senate, Ayes 30, Nays 0 (Senate) - 2026-04-22: Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - SA0910) (Senate) - 2026-04-22: Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill. (Senate) - 2026-04-22: Received from House, Passed on First Consideration (Senate) - 2026-04-21: Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen. (House) - 2026-04-21: Passed H., as am., Ayes 86, Nays 2, PNV 0 (House) - 2026-04-21: Sponsor(s) Added. (House) - 2026-04-21: H. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA0992) (House) - 2026-04-16: H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/20/2026 (House) - 2026-04-15: Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/16/2026 (House) - 2026-04-15: Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee (House) - 2026-04-15: Placed on cal. Finance, Ways, and Means Committee for 4/15/2026 (House) - 2026-04-15: Rec for pass by s/c ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee (House) - 2026-04-15: Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/15/2026 (House) - 2026-04-08: Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2026 (House) - 2026-04-08: Placed behind the budget (House) - 2026-04-06: Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/8/2026 (House) - 2026-04-06: Assigned to s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee (House) - 2026-04-06: Rec. for pass; ref to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee (House) - 2026-04-01: Placed on cal. Government Operations Committee for 4/6/2026 (House) - 2026-04-01: Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Government Operations Committee (House) - 2026-03-25: Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 4/1/2026 (House) - 2026-03-25: Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Judiciary Committee (House) - 2026-03-18: Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/25/2026 (House) - 2026-02-04: Assigned to s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee (House) - 2026-02-04: P2C, ref. to Judiciary Committee - Government Operations for Review (House) - 2026-02-02: Intro., P1C. (House) - 2026-01-23: Filed for introduction (House) ## Bill text - HA0992 (Substitute), 2026-04-21: [PDF](https://capitol.tn.gov/Bills/114/Amend/HA0992.pdf) - Enrolled / Public Chapter: [PDF](https://publications.tnsosfiles.com/acts/114/pub/pc1003.pdf) - Fiscal Note: [PDF](https://capitol.tn.gov/Bills/114/Fiscal/SB1937.pdf) - Introduced: [PDF](https://capitol.tn.gov/Bills/114/Bill/HB2081.pdf) - SA0910: [PDF](https://capitol.tn.gov/Bills/114/Amend/SA0910.pdf) ## Related bills - HB 2091: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 70, Chapter 9, relative to off-highway vehicles. (failed) - HB 2023: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 40-24-109, relative to the victims assistance assessment. (failed) - HB 1967: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39, Chapter 13 and Title 55, Chapter 10, relative to leaving the scene of an accident. (failed) - HB 1906: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 8, Chapter 34, Part 6, relative to creditable service for a period of disability. (failed) - HB 1720: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 5; Title 6; Title 7 and Title 13, relative to zoning outside of municipal boundaries. (failed) - HB 1710: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 1 and Title 4, Chapter 58, relative to public benefits. (failed) ## Sources - [HA0992 (Substitute) (PDF)](https://capitol.tn.gov/Bills/114/Amend/HA0992.pdf) - [Enrolled / Public Chapter (PDF)](https://publications.tnsosfiles.com/acts/114/pub/pc1003.pdf) - [Fiscal Note (PDF)](https://capitol.tn.gov/Bills/114/Fiscal/SB1937.pdf) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://capitol.tn.gov/Bills/114/Bill/HB2081.pdf) - [SA0910 (PDF)](https://capitol.tn.gov/Bills/114/Amend/SA0910.pdf) ## Related - [HB 2091: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 70, Chapter 9, relative to off-…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TN-HB2091-2025-2026) - [HB 2023: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 40-24-109, relative to the vi…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TN-HB2023-2025-2026) - [HB 1967: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39, Chapter 13 and Title 55, Ch…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TN-HB1967-2025-2026) - [HB 1906: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 8, Chapter 34, Part 6, relative…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TN-HB1906-2025-2026) - [HB 1720: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 5; Title 6; Title 7 and Title 1…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TN-HB1720-2025-2026) - [HB 1710: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 1 and Title 4, Chapt…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TN-HB1710-2025-2026) - [Tennessee bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/tennessee/bills) - [Tennessee state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/tennessee) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TN-HB2081-2025-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).