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TennesseeSB 2184114th General Assembly (2025-2026)Senate

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 29; Title 31 and Title 34, relative to civil law.

Sponsored By: Sponsor information unavailable

Signed by Governor

Estates

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.

New estate valuation rules for surviving spouses

Beginning July 1, 2026, Tennessee courts use the federal estate-tax method to value estates under the surviving-spouse rules. This method follows 26 U.S.C. § 2031(a). Courts leave out assets excluded under Tennessee inheritance-tax rules in Title 67, Chapter 8, Part 3, immediately before § 67-8-318 was enacted. A life estate or trust benefiting the spouse for life must be valued using actuarial calculations of lifetime benefits. These rules affect estate values used for surviving spouses’ rights, but set no fixed dollar amount for a spouse’s share.

Required information for conservator appointment petitions

Beginning July 1, 2026, petitions asking Tennessee courts to appoint a conservator must include the information listed in § 34-3-104. The law changes this instruction from “should” to “shall,” making the listed contents mandatory. Petitions must still be sworn. This amendment does not list the required information itself.

Different property division rules for certain cases

Beginning July 1, 2026, Tennessee excludes certain court cases from one set of property division rules. The partition rules in Title 29, Chapter 27, Part 3 do not apply to actions under Title 30, Chapter 2, Part 4. The law changes which rules apply, without setting a payment amount or identifying who gains financially.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

There is no primary sponsor on record.

Cosponsors

  • Paul Bailey

    Republican • Senate

  • Janice Bowling

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 36 • No: 2

Senate vote • 3/23/2026

FLOOR VOTE: Third Consideration 3/23/2026

Yes: 29 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/9/2026

SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

Yes: 7 • No: 2

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective date(s) 07/01/2026

    5/5/2026

  2. Pub. Ch. 717

    5/5/2026

  3. Signed by Governor.

    4/14/2026Senate

  4. Transmitted to Governor for action.

    4/2/2026Senate

  5. Signed by H. Speaker

    4/2/2026House

  6. Signed by Senate Speaker

    4/1/2026Senate

  7. Enrolled and ready for signatures

    4/1/2026Senate

  8. Passed H., Ayes 82, Nays 1, PNV 10

    3/30/2026House

  9. Subst. for comp. HB.

    3/30/2026House

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

    3/26/2026House

  11. Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

    3/23/2026Senate

  12. Sponsor(s) Added.

    3/23/2026Senate

  13. Passed Senate, Ayes 29, Nays 0

    3/23/2026Senate

  14. Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 3/23/2026

    3/20/2026Senate

  15. Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee

    3/9/2026Senate

  16. Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/9/2026

    3/4/2026Senate

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

    2/5/2026Senate

  18. Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

    2/2/2026Senate

  19. Filed for introduction

    2/2/2026Senate

Bill Text

  • Enrolled / Public Chapter

    PDF

  • Fiscal Note

    PDF

  • Introduced

    PDF

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