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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: Jack Johnson (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Child Abuse

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Faster decisions and clearer child abuse reports

Beginning July 1, 2026, most child abuse investigations must decide “indicated” or “unfounded” and update the abuse registry within 90 days of the first report. For child fatality cases, the deadline is 180 days; the commissioner can approve one extra extension of up to 180 days for good cause with a plan to finish. Every team member gets a copy of a team investigation report. If the department investigates alone, it must give a full written report and recommendation to the juvenile court. If a report is indicated, the district attorney general also receives a copy.

Stronger child abuse teams and training

Beginning July 1, 2026, every child abuse investigation team includes one member from the children’s services department, one from the district attorney’s office, one juvenile court officer or investigator, and one trained countywide law enforcement officer from the child’s county of residence or alleged offense. Teams may also include mental health and medical representatives. For suspected child trafficking, the team must add a representative from a nonprofit that fights the commercial sexual exploitation of minors. Where a qualified child advocacy center operates, its director or designee is on the team and can access and create needed records, which stay confidential by law. Teams should wait for all required members when possible, but can start an initial investigation with at least two required members present. Each team member must complete 15 hours of training each year on severe child abuse and child sexual abuse; the department provides this training with input from courts, child advocacy centers, district attorneys, sheriffs, and police chiefs.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Jack Johnson

    Republican • Senate

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. Sponsor(s) Added.

    4/20/2026Senate

  2. Signed by Governor.

    4/16/2026Senate

  3. Transmitted to Governor for action.

    4/7/2026Senate

  4. Signed by Senate Speaker

    4/6/2026Senate

  5. Signed by H. Speaker

    4/6/2026House

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

    4/2/2026Senate

  7. Enrolled and ready for signatures

    4/2/2026Senate

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

    3/31/2026Senate

  9. Subst. for comp. HB.

    3/30/2026House

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

    3/30/2026House

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

    3/30/2026House

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

    3/5/2026House

  13. Sponsor(s) Added.

    3/3/2026Senate

  14. Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0522)

    3/2/2026Senate

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

    3/2/2026Senate

  16. Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

    3/2/2026Senate

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

    2/27/2026Senate

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

    2/24/2026Senate

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

    2/18/2026Senate

  20. Sponsor(s) Added.

    2/18/2026Senate

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

    2/5/2026Senate

  22. Filed for introduction

    2/2/2026Senate

  23. Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

    2/2/2026Senate

Bill Text

  • HA0753 (Substitute)

    3/30/2026

    PDF

  • Fiscal Note

    PDF

  • Introduced

    PDF

  • SA0522

    PDF

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