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TennesseeSB 1178114th General Assembly (2025-2026)SenateWALLET

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 52 and Title 71, relative to family caregiving.

Sponsored By: Raumesh Akbari (Democrat)

Became Law

Disability and Aging, Dept. Of

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

Agencies cannot discourage hiring family caregivers

The Department of Disability and Aging, TennCare, and TennCare contractors cannot block or discourage Medicaid providers from hiring family caregivers. This keeps the option open to hire family members for long‑term services and home‑ and community‑based services. This protection starts July 1, 2025.

Benefits protected with person-centered planning

Your Medicaid or TennCare benefits cannot be cut or changed just because a family member provides your care. Any change tied to a caregiver’s family relationship must go through person‑centered planning first. This safeguard starts July 1, 2025.

Clear hiring rules for family caregivers

Tennessee must publish clear rules to help providers hire qualified family members as paid caregivers. The Department of Disability and Aging and TennCare post the rules online and send them to Medicaid providers every year. These hiring guidelines apply statewide starting July 1, 2025.

No unfair hiring bans on family caregivers

Agencies cannot refuse to hire a qualified family caregiver just because of family ties, where either person lives, or the care recipient’s age. They also cannot deny hiring due to parent or spouse status, guardianship or conservatorship status (unless the court papers direct otherwise), or because the person is in a certain TennCare waiver. This includes Employment and Community First CHOICES, CHOICES, Katie Beckett, self‑determination, the comprehensive aggregate cap waiver, and the statewide waiver. They also cannot deny hiring because an unrelated caregiver is also employed. These protections start July 1, 2025.

Rulemaking now, main rules July 2025

Agencies can write the rules to carry out this law right away. All other parts of the law take effect July 1, 2025. Rulemaking must follow Tennessee’s Uniform Administrative Procedures Act.

Pay cap for TennCare family caregivers

A family caregiver’s pay cannot be more than the services and hours set in the person’s plan. Payment is limited to the long‑term services or home‑ and community‑based services listed in the person‑centered plan. This pay cap starts July 1, 2025.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Raumesh Akbari

    Democrat • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Heidi Campbell

    Democrat • Senate

  • Ferrell Haile

    Republican • Senate

  • Tom Hatcher

    Republican • Senate

  • Becky Duncan Massey

    Republican • Senate

  • Shane Reeves

    Republican • Senate

  • Jeff Yarbro

    Democrat • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 134 • No: 0

House vote • 3/31/2025

FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 3/31/2025

Yes: 94 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/24/2025

FLOOR VOTE: as Amended Third Consideration 3/24/2025

Yes: 31 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/12/2025

SENATE HEALTH AND WELFARE COMMITTEE

Yes: 9 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Pub. Ch. 182

    4/30/2025

  2. Effective date(s) 04/11/2025, 07/01/2025

    4/30/2025

  3. Signed by Governor.

    4/11/2025Senate

  4. Transmitted to Governor for action.

    4/3/2025Senate

  5. Signed by Senate Speaker

    4/2/2025Senate

  6. Signed by H. Speaker

    4/2/2025House

  7. Enrolled and ready for signatures

    4/1/2025Senate

  8. Subst. for comp. HB.

    3/31/2025House

  9. Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA0082)

    3/31/2025House

  10. Passed H., Ayes 94, Nays 0, PNV 0

    3/31/2025House

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

    3/27/2025House

  12. Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0105)

    3/24/2025Senate

  13. Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 31, Nays 0

    3/24/2025Senate

  14. Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

    3/24/2025Senate

  15. Sponsor(s) Added.

    3/24/2025Senate

  16. Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 3/24/2025

    3/21/2025Senate

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

    3/12/2025Senate

  18. Sponsor(s) Added.

    3/12/2025Senate

  19. Action deferred in Senate Health and Welfare Committee to 3/12/2025

    3/5/2025Senate

  20. Placed on Senate Health and Welfare Committee calendar for 3/12/2025

    3/5/2025Senate

  21. Placed on Senate Health and Welfare Committee calendar for 3/5/2025

    2/26/2025Senate

  22. Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Health and Welfare Committee

    2/12/2025Senate

  23. Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

    2/10/2025Senate

  24. Filed for introduction

    2/6/2025Senate

Bill Text

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