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TennesseeSB 0540114th General Assembly (2025-2026)Senate

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 36 and Title 37, relative to child custody.

Sponsored By: John Stevens (Republican)

Became Law

Child Custody and Support

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Attorney fees in grandparent visitation cases

In a grandparent visitation case, the court can order reasonable attorney’s fees and other costs for either side. This can help the winning party pay legal bills. It can also make the losing side pay those costs.

Unpaid support counts in custody and parenting time

Unpaid child support now counts in custody and parenting-time decisions. Judges weigh your support payment history when deciding a child’s best interests. Judges may also treat nonpayment as neglect or major nonperformance, which can limit parenting time. Courts can still consider any other factors they find relevant.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • John Stevens

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Paul Bailey

    Republican • Senate

  • Janice Bowling

    Republican • Senate

  • Ferrell Haile

    Republican • Senate

  • Paul Rose

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 108 • No: 22

House vote • 4/15/2025

FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/15/2025

Yes: 75 • No: 17

Senate vote • 3/6/2025

FLOOR VOTE: as Amended Third Consideration 3/6/2025

Yes: 26 • No: 3

Senate vote • 2/25/2025

SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

Yes: 7 • No: 2

Actions Timeline

  1. Pub. Ch. 321

    5/13/2025

  2. Effective date(s) 05/02/2025

    5/13/2025

  3. Signed by Governor.

    5/2/2025Senate

  4. Transmitted to Governor for action.

    4/22/2025Senate

  5. Signed by Senate Speaker

    4/21/2025Senate

  6. Signed by H. Speaker

    4/21/2025House

  7. Enrolled and ready for signatures

    4/17/2025Senate

  8. Subst. for comp. HB.

    4/15/2025House

  9. Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA0378)

    4/15/2025House

  10. Passed H., Ayes 75, Nays 17, PNV 2

    4/15/2025House

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

    3/10/2025House

  12. Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0017)

    3/6/2025Senate

  13. Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 26, Nays 3, PNV 1

    3/6/2025Senate

  14. Sponsor(s) Added.

    3/6/2025Senate

  15. Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

    3/6/2025Senate

  16. Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 3/6/2025

    3/4/2025Senate

  17. Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 7, Nays 2 PNV 0

    2/25/2025Senate

  18. Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 2/25/2025

    2/19/2025Senate

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

    2/12/2025Senate

  20. Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

    2/10/2025Senate

  21. Filed for introduction

    1/30/2025Senate

Bill Text

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