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TennesseeSB 0943114th General Assembly (2025-2026)Senate

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

Sponsored By: Becky Duncan Massey (Republican)

Became Law

Civil Procedure

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Parent with supervised visits pays fees

Beginning July 1, 2025, for cases filed on or after that date, if a court orders supervised visitation after findings under §36-6-406(a)-(d) or §37-1-129, the parent with restricted and supervised time pays all supervision fees and costs. The other parent pays none. The court can order payments go straight to the supervising person or agency. The court can change the paying parent’s obligation later if circumstances change, based on ability to pay.

Abuse includes harm through others

Starting July 1, 2025, for cases filed on or after that date, Tennessee treats abuse done through another person as abuse by the offending party. This includes acts by a family member, friend, partner, or coworker acting on the offender’s behalf.

Courts must explain custody orders

Beginning July 1, 2025, for cases filed on or after that date, Tennessee courts must put key facts in writing in custody orders. If §36-6-406(a)-(d) limits are not decisive, the judge must apply all listed best-interest factors and say whether those limits apply. When a parent is found under §36-6-406(a)-(d), the order must also state the facts behind limits on that parent’s decision-making under §36-6-407.

New factors in custody decisions

Beginning July 1, 2025, for cases filed on or after that date, judges must consider added factors when setting a child’s schedule. Courts look at past cuts to a parent’s time and why, unpaid court-ordered child support, and any other facts the court finds relevant. The law also deletes one subsection of the custody statute, which changes how courts read that section.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Becky Duncan Massey

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Raumesh Akbari

    Democrat • Senate

  • Tom Hatcher

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 137 • No: 0

House vote • 4/14/2025

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

Yes: 96 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/7/2025

FLOOR VOTE: as Amended Third Consideration 4/7/2025

Yes: 32 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/25/2025

SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

Yes: 9 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Pub. Ch. 265

    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 - HA0330)

    4/14/2025House

  10. Passed H., Ayes 96, Nays 0, PNV 0

    4/14/2025House

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

    4/9/2025House

  12. Sponsor(s) Added.

    4/7/2025Senate

  13. Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0215)

    4/7/2025Senate

  14. Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 32, Nays 0

    4/7/2025Senate

  15. Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

    4/7/2025Senate

  16. Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/7/2025

    4/4/2025Senate

  17. Senate Reset on calendar for 4/7/2025

    4/3/2025Senate

  18. Sponsor(s) Added.

    4/2/2025Senate

  19. Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/3/2025

    4/1/2025Senate

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

    3/25/2025Senate

  21. Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/25/2025

    3/24/2025Senate

  22. Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/24/2025

    3/19/2025Senate

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

    2/12/2025Senate

  24. Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

    2/10/2025Senate

  25. Filed for introduction

    2/5/2025Senate

Bill Text

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