# Tennessee SB 1989: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 36, Chapter 6; Title 37, Chapter 1 and Title 39, Chapter 15, relative to children. Tennessee SB 1989, AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 36, Chapter 6; Title 37, Chapter 1 and Title 39, Chapter 15, relative to children., is a 114th General Assembly (2025-2026) Senate bill sponsored by no sponsor on record; status signed, last action 2026-05-05 (Effective date(s) 04/27/2026) (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TN-SB1989-2025-2026 - 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 1989 - State: Tennessee - Session: 114th General Assembly (2025-2026) - Title: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 36, Chapter 6; Title 37, Chapter 1 and Title 39, Chapter 15, relative to children. - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-01-22 - Last action: 2026-05-05, Effective date(s) 04/27/2026 - Sponsors: no sponsor on record - Cosponsors: 5 - Subjects: Children - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 3 (113 yes, 23 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 3 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Children gain limits on unruly-child findings: benefit, medium. A child’s disagreement with parenting consistent with the child’s biological sex generally cannot support Tennessee’s listed unruly-child court actions. The parent or legal guardian involved can request an unruly-child finding or the specified court outcome based on that disagreement. That exceptio… - Parents gain protection in child custody decisions: benefit, medium. Tennessee courts cannot count parenting consistent with a child’s biological sex against a parent when deciding custody. This covers both the parent’s actions and intent. Examples include matching pronouns, choosing lawful medical or mental health services supporting that sex, and declining gender-… - Parents gain protections for sex-based parenting choices: benefit, low. Tennessee protects parents and legal guardians who raise a child consistent with the child’s biological sex. Covered choices include matching pronouns, consenting to lawful medical or mental health services supporting that sex, and declining gender-transition services. Officials cannot base abuse o… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Cosponsor: Janice Bowling (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Ferrell Haile (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Mark Pody (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Jessie Seal (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Stevens ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-04-14 | House | FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/14/2026 | pass | 79 | 16 | | | 2026-03-12 | Senate | FLOOR VOTE: Third Consideration 3/12/2026 | pass | 27 | 6 | | | 2026-03-03 | Senate | SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE | pass | 7 | 1 | | ## Actions (19) - 2026-05-05: Effective date(s) 04/27/2026 - 2026-05-05: Pub. Ch. 846 - 2026-04-27: Signed by Governor. (Senate) - 2026-04-17: Transmitted to Governor for action. (Senate) - 2026-04-16: Signed by H. Speaker (House) - 2026-04-15: Signed by Senate Speaker (Senate) - 2026-04-15: Enrolled and ready for signatures (Senate) - 2026-04-14: Passed H., Ayes 79, Nays 16, PNV 0 (House) - 2026-04-14: Subst. for comp. HB. (House) - 2026-03-16: Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk. (House) - 2026-03-12: Sponsor(s) Added. (Senate) - 2026-03-12: Engrossed; ready for transmission to House (Senate) - 2026-03-12: Passed Senate, Ayes 27, Nays 6 (Senate) - 2026-03-10: Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 3/12/2026 (Senate) - 2026-03-03: Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee (Senate) - 2026-02-25: Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/3/2026 (Senate) - 2026-02-05: Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee (Senate) - 2026-02-02: Introduced, Passed on First Consideration (Senate) - 2026-01-22: Filed for introduction (Senate) ## Bill text - Enrolled / Public Chapter: [PDF](https://publications.tnsosfiles.com/acts/114/pub/pc0846.pdf) - Fiscal Note: [PDF](https://capitol.tn.gov/Bills/114/Fiscal/SB1989.pdf) - Introduced: [PDF](https://capitol.tn.gov/Bills/114/Bill/SB1989.pdf) ## Related bills - SB 2017: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 8, Chapter 34, Part 6, relative to creditable service for a period of disability. (signed) - SB 1900: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39 and Title 40, relative to first responders. (signed) - SB 1915: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 1 and Title 4, Chapter 58, relative to public benefits. (signed) - SB 1766: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 7; Title 9; Title 12; Title 13; Title 66; Title 67 and Title 68, relative to infrastructure development distric… (signed) - SB 1771: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 5; Title 6; Title 7 and Title 13, relative to zoning outside of municipal boundaries. (signed) - SB 1668: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 6 and Title 7, relative to penalties for violations of ordinances. (signed) ## Sources - [Enrolled / Public Chapter (PDF)](https://publications.tnsosfiles.com/acts/114/pub/pc0846.pdf) - [Fiscal Note (PDF)](https://capitol.tn.gov/Bills/114/Fiscal/SB1989.pdf) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://capitol.tn.gov/Bills/114/Bill/SB1989.pdf) ## Related - [SB 2017: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 8, Chapter 34, Part 6, relative…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TN-SB2017-2025-2026) - [SB 1900: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39 and Title 40, relative to fi…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TN-SB1900-2025-2026) - [SB 1915: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 1 and Title 4, Chapt…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TN-SB1915-2025-2026) - [SB 1766: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 7; Title 9; Title 12; Title 13;…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TN-SB1766-2025-2026) - [SB 1771: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 5; Title 6; Title 7 and Title 1…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TN-SB1771-2025-2026) - [SB 1668: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 6 and Title 7, relative to pena…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TN-SB1668-2025-2026) - [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-SB1989-2025-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).