# Tennessee SB 0540: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 36 and Title 37, relative to child custody.

Tennessee SB 0540, AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 36 and Title 37, relative to child custody., is a 114th General Assembly (2025-2026) Senate bill sponsored by no sponsor on record; status signed, last action 2025-05-13 (Effective date(s) 05/02/2025) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TN-SB0540-2025-2026
- As of: 2026-11-01
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Tennessee SB 0540
- State: Tennessee
- Session: 114th General Assembly (2025-2026)
- Title: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 36 and Title 37, relative to child custody.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-30
- Last action: 2025-05-13, Effective date(s) 05/02/2025
- Sponsors: no sponsor on record
- Cosponsors: 4
- Subjects: Child Custody and Support
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 3 (108 yes, 22 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 2

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Courts can shift grandparent visitation costs: mixed, low. In Tennessee grandparent visitation cases, courts may award either side reasonable lawyer fees and other case costs. The court decides whether to make an award and which costs are reasonable. The law sets no dollar amount or formula. This authority took effect upon enactment.
- Unpaid support counts in parents' custody cases: mixed, low. Tennessee courts must consider whether a parent failed to pay court-ordered child support when deciding custody. Courts can still consider any other relevant factors. When deciding whether to limit a parent's time with a child, courts may consider neglect or serious failures in parenting duties. Th…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Cosponsor: Paul Bailey (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Janice Bowling (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Ferrell Haile (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Paul Rose (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-04-15 | House | FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/15/2025 | pass | 75 | 17 |   |
| 2025-03-06 | Senate | FLOOR VOTE: as Amended Third Consideration 3/6/2025 | pass | 26 | 3 |   |
| 2025-02-25 | Senate | SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE | pass | 7 | 2 |   |

## Bill text

- Enrolled / Public Chapter: [PDF](https://publications.tnsosfiles.com/acts/114/pub/pc0321.pdf)
- Fiscal Note: [PDF](https://capitol.tn.gov/Bills/114/Fiscal/HB0492.pdf)
- HA0378: [PDF](https://capitol.tn.gov/Bills/114/Amend/HA0378.pdf)
- Introduced: [PDF](https://capitol.tn.gov/Bills/114/Bill/SB0540.pdf)
- SA0017: [PDF](https://capitol.tn.gov/Bills/114/Amend/SA0017.pdf)

## Related bills

- SB 0539: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 7; Title 13; Title 48; Title 49; Title 67 and Title 68, relative to low-income housing. (signed)
- SB 0254: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 38; Title 39; Title 40 and Title 55, relative to criminal law. (signed)
- SB 0198: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 67, relative to taxes. (signed)
- HB 2670: AN ACT to amend Chapter 33 of the Private Acts of 1985; as amended by Chapter 85 of the Private Acts of 2004; and any other acts amendatory thereto, relative t… (signed)
- HB 2666: AN ACT to amend Chapter 131 of the Private Acts of 1969; as amended by Chapter 85 of the Private Acts of 1987; Chapter 74 of the Private Acts of 1995; Chapter… (signed)
- HB 2656: AN ACT to amend Chapter 325 of the Private Acts of 1945; as amended by Chapter 335 of the Private Acts of 1968; Chapter 282 of the Private Acts of 1972; Chapte… (signed)

## Sources
- [Enrolled / Public Chapter (PDF)](https://publications.tnsosfiles.com/acts/114/pub/pc0321.pdf)
- [Fiscal Note (PDF)](https://capitol.tn.gov/Bills/114/Fiscal/HB0492.pdf)
- [HA0378 (PDF)](https://capitol.tn.gov/Bills/114/Amend/HA0378.pdf)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://capitol.tn.gov/Bills/114/Bill/SB0540.pdf)
- [SA0017 (PDF)](https://capitol.tn.gov/Bills/114/Amend/SA0017.pdf)

## Related
- [SB 0539: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 7; Title 13; Title 48; Title 49…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TN-SB0539-2025-2026)
- [SB 0254: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 38; Title 39; Title 40 and Titl…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TN-SB0254-2025-2026)
- [SB 0198: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 67, relative to taxes.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TN-SB0198-2025-2026)
- [HB 2670: AN ACT to amend Chapter 33 of the Private Acts of 1985; as amended by Chapter 8…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TN-HB2670-2025-2026)
- [HB 2666: AN ACT to amend Chapter 131 of the Private Acts of 1969; as amended by Chapter…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TN-HB2666-2025-2026)
- [HB 2656: AN ACT to amend Chapter 325 of the Private Acts of 1945; as amended by Chapter…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TN-HB2656-2025-2026)
- [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-SB0540-2025-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).