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TennesseeSB 2225114th General Assembly (2025-2026)Senate

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 37, Chapter 1, relative to child abuse investigations.

Sponsored By: Sponsor information unavailable

Signed by Governor

Child Abuse

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Deadlines and shared child abuse findings

Beginning July 1, 2026, Tennessee requires Children’s Services or the investigation team to classify abuse reports as indicated or unfounded. Findings must reach the department’s abuse registry within 90 days of the initial report, except in child-death cases. Child-death cases have 180 days from the initial report. For good cause, the commissioner or designee may approve one extension of up to 180 additional days. The reason and a plan to finish must be documented. Every team member must receive the report for cases the team investigates. When Children’s Services investigates alone, it must send the juvenile court a complete written report, including its recommendation. The district attorney must also receive a copy whenever the finding is indicated. Any further proceedings follow the applicable rules in Tennessee’s juvenile court law.

Specialists and training for child abuse teams

Beginning July 1, 2026, Tennessee sets team membership and annual training rules for child abuse investigations. Teams must include one representative each from Children’s Services, the district attorney’s office, and juvenile court or another court with authority. They must also include one trained law enforcement officer with countywide authority where the child lives or the alleged offense occurred. Teams may add a mental health representative and a medical representative trained in child abuse. Cases involving alleged child trafficking require a nongovernmental agency representative specializing in fighting the commercial sexual exploitation of minors. Where a child advocacy center meets state requirements, its director or designee must join for the center’s authorized services. That member may access and create needed information, which must stay confidential. All required fields should be represented before an investigation starts, but at least two required members can begin it. Each member must complete 15 hours of training yearly on severe child abuse and child sexual abuse. Children’s Services develops the training with input from the Administrative Office of the Courts, the state child advocacy center chapter, and Tennessee’s district attorney, sheriff, and police chief associations.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

There is no primary sponsor on record.

Cosponsors

  • Paul Rose

    Republican • Senate

  • Page Walley

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 166 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/2/2026

FLOOR VOTE: Motion to Concur House Amendment # 1 4/2/2026

Yes: 32 • No: 0

House vote • 3/30/2026

FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 3/30/2026

Yes: 93 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/2/2026

FLOOR VOTE: as Amended Third Consideration 3/2/2026

Yes: 32 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/24/2026

SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

Yes: 9 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

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

    5/5/2026

  2. Pub. Ch. 723

    5/5/2026

  3. Sponsor(s) Added.

    4/20/2026Senate

  4. Signed by Governor.

    4/16/2026Senate

  5. Transmitted to Governor for action.

    4/7/2026Senate

  6. Signed by H. Speaker

    4/6/2026House

  7. Signed by Senate Speaker

    4/6/2026Senate

  8. Enrolled and ready for signatures

    4/2/2026Senate

  9. Concurred, Ayes 32, Nays 0 (Amendment 1 - HA0753)

    4/2/2026Senate

  10. Placed on Senate Message Calendar for 4/2/2026

    3/31/2026Senate

  11. Passed H., as am., Ayes 93, Nays 0, PNV 0

    3/30/2026House

  12. H. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA0753)

    3/30/2026House

  13. Subst. for comp. HB.

    3/30/2026House

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

    3/5/2026House

  15. Sponsor(s) Added.

    3/3/2026Senate

  16. Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

    3/2/2026Senate

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

    3/2/2026Senate

  18. Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0522)

    3/2/2026Senate

  19. Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 3/2/2026

    2/27/2026Senate

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

    2/24/2026Senate

  21. Sponsor(s) Added.

    2/18/2026Senate

  22. Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 2/24/2026

    2/18/2026Senate

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

    2/5/2026Senate

  24. Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

    2/2/2026Senate

  25. Filed for introduction

    2/2/2026Senate

Bill Text

  • HA0753 (Substitute)

    3/30/2026

    PDF

  • Enrolled / Public Chapter

    PDF

  • Fiscal Note

    PDF

  • Introduced

    PDF

  • SA0522

    PDF

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