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HB0641 • 2026

Public Funds and Financing

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 9; Title 12; Title 37; Title 39 and Title 49, relative to funding of child advocacy centers.

Budget Children Taxes
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Carringer, Massey
Last action
2025-05-27
Official status
Effective date(s) 07/01/2025
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill's effective date is July 1, 2025, not July 1, 2026 as mentioned in the candidate explanation.

Savannah Grace Copeland Act

This act requires that any increase in funding for positions or office expenses of the Department of Children's Services must be matched by a 75% increase in funding for child advocacy center contracts, starting from July 1, 2026.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires that any increase in funding for positions or office expenses for the department of children’s services in child protective services must be accompanied by an increase in funding of seventy-five percent (75%) to the contracts of the child advocacy center in each judicial district starting from July 1, 2026.
  • Sets base amounts for child advocacy center and forensic child interviewer contracts: $127,855.98 for a 'child advocacy center' contract and $85,000 per contracted interviewer.
  • Requires funds appropriated for child advocacy centers to be allocated according to the specified formula starting from July 1, 2026.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Department of Children's Services
  • Child advocacy centers in each judicial district
  • Forensic child interviewers

Terms To Know

child advocacy center
A facility that provides support and services to children who are victims of abuse or neglect.
forensic child interviewer
A professional trained to interview children about traumatic experiences in a way that can be used in legal proceedings.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The act does not create an immediate appropriation but sets rules for how funds should be allocated once they are appropriated.
  • The exact amount of funding for child advocacy centers cannot be predicted due to the unknown future increases in appropriations.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

Amendment 1-0 to HB0641

Plain English: The amendment requires the state funding board to certify a growth rate in state general fund revenue and mandates an increase in funding for child advocacy center contracts if this growth rate meets or exceeds one percent.

  • Adds new subsections (e) and (f) to Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 9-4-213.
  • Requires the state funding board to certify a growth rate of state general fund revenue each December based on actual collections from the prior fiscal year.
  • Specifies that if this growth rate equals or exceeds one percent, child advocacy center contracts must be increased by three percent in July for providing services to child victims.
  • Sets specific base amounts for 'child advocacy center' and 'forensic child interviewer' contracts.
  • The exact impact of the amendment on state funding depends on the actual growth rate certified each year.
Amendment 1-0 to SB0450

Plain English: The amendment requires the state funding board to certify a growth rate in state general fund revenue and mandates an increase in funding for child advocacy center contracts if this growth rate meets or exceeds one percent.

  • Adds new subsections (e) and (f) to Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 9-4-213.
  • Requires the state funding board to certify a growth rate of state general fund revenue each December based on actual collections from the prior fiscal year.
  • Specifies that if this growth rate is one percent or more, child advocacy center contracts must be increased by three percent in July for providing services to child victims.
  • Sets specific base amounts for 'child advocacy center' and 'forensic child interviewer' contracts.
  • The exact impact of the amendment on state funding depends on the actual growth rate certified each year.

Bill History

  1. 2025-05-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Effective date(s) 07/01/2025

  2. 2025-05-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Pub. Ch. 495

  3. 2025-05-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. became Pub. Ch. 495

  4. 2025-05-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Governor.

  5. 2025-05-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Transmitted to Governor for his action.

  6. 2025-05-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Senate Speaker

  7. 2025-04-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by H. Speaker

  8. 2025-04-28 Tennessee General Assembly

    Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.

  9. 2025-04-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  10. 2025-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate, Ayes 32, Nays 0

  11. 2025-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - SA0453)

  12. 2025-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.

  13. 2025-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Received from House, Passed on First Consideration

  14. 2025-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Companion House Bill substituted

  15. 2025-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.

  16. 2025-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed H., as am., Ayes 93, Nays 0, PNV 1

  17. 2025-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA0504)

  18. 2025-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  19. 2025-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/22/2025

  20. 2025-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 11, Nays 0 PNV 0

  21. 2025-04-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/21/2025

  22. 2025-04-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/17/2025

  23. 2025-04-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee

  24. 2025-04-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

  25. 2025-04-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/21/2025

  26. 2025-04-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/17/2025

  27. 2025-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/15/2025

  28. 2025-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rule #83(8) Suspended, to be heard in Senate Finance, Ways & Means Committee on 4/15/2025

  29. 2025-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2025

  30. 2025-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  31. 2025-04-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  32. 2025-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  33. 2025-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  34. 2025-03-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  35. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  36. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  37. 2025-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  38. 2025-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  39. 2025-03-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  40. 2025-03-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  41. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed behind the budget

  42. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  43. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  44. 2025-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  45. 2025-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  46. 2025-03-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  47. 2025-03-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  48. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 3/19/2025

  49. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee

  50. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  51. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass; ref to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

  52. 2025-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  53. 2025-03-07 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  54. 2025-03-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  55. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/12/2025

  56. 2025-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  57. 2025-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Judiciary Committee

  58. 2025-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

  59. 2025-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  60. 2025-03-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  61. 2025-02-28 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  62. 2025-02-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  63. 2025-02-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  64. 2025-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Children and Family Affairs Subcommittee for 3/4/2025

  65. 2025-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  66. 2025-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  67. 2025-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/4/2025

  68. 2025-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  69. 2025-02-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  70. 2025-02-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  71. 2025-02-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  72. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee

  73. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Children and Family Affairs Subcommittee

  74. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  75. 2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Judiciary Committee

  76. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  77. 2025-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  78. 2025-01-29 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

This bill enacts the "Savannah Grace Copeland Act," which requires the following:



Requires, in the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and subsequent fiscal years, any increase in funding for positions or office expenses for the department of children's services in child protective services to be accompanied by an increase in funding of 75% of the increase in funding to the contracts of the child advocacy center in each judicial district for the purpose of services to child victims in each fiscal year.



Subject to appropriation, requires the department of children's services to increase each child advocacy contract as follows: (i) a contract labeled as "child advocacy center" must be increased to a base of $127,855.98, and (ii) a contract labeled as "forensic child interviewer" must be increased to a base of $85,000 per contracted interviewer.



Requires funds appropriated for child advocacy centers to be allocated in accordance with the formula and the contract's applicable base pursuant to this bill.

ON APRIL 21, 2025, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 641, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #1 replaces the provision of this bill that would link funding increases for contracts of child advocacy centers to inc
reases in funding for positions or office expenses for DCS. This amendment instead provides that, e
ach December, when the state funding board presents its state revenue estimates, the board
must
also certify the growth rate of the state general fund reven
ue based on actual revenue collections from the prior fiscal year.
I
f the growth rate that is certified for the prior fiscal year equals or exceeds one percent
,
then
this amendment requires that
the base amount of the contracts of the child advocacy cente
r in each judicial district

be increased on the subsequent July 1 by three percent

for the purpose of providing services to child victims.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 450
By Massey

HOUSE BILL 641
By Carringer

HB0641
002086
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 9;
Title 12; Title 37; Title 39 and Title 49, relative to
funding of child advocacy centers.

WHEREAS, child advocacy centers have played a vital role for the last thirty years in the
State of Tennessee to meet the needs of at-risk, neglected, and abused children; and
WHEREAS, Tennessee was the first state in the nation to require a child advocacy
center in each judicial district setting the standard for the care of abused children; and
WHEREAS, Tennessee has a long history of leading the nation in the fight against child
abuse and neglect; and
WHEREAS, Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 9-4-213, which was originally enacted
by Chapter 988 of the Public Acts of 1988 during the 100th General Assembly, clearly outlines
the requirements of a child advocacy center in order to meet funding requirements; and
WHEREAS, we, the members of the General Assembly, find that funding for all child
advocacy centers' contracts has remained stagnant since 1999, resulting in increased pressure
on these centers; and
WHEREAS, collectively, the child advocacy centers served over 32,000 children in 2024
with forensic interviews, victim advocacy, medical exams, and mental health clinical services;
and
WHEREAS, the critical role of child advocacy centers and their staff play an integral role
of bringing help, healing, and hope to thousands of child victims each year; and
WHEREAS, child advocacy centers support the work of the Department of Children's
Services, local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, and provide crucial support to the

- 2 - 002086

district attorneys general in each judicial district to aid in the prosecution of crimes against
children; and
WHEREAS, both the 112th and 113th General Assemblies appropriated one-time funds
expecting the Department of Children's Services to increase funding to all child advocacy
centers; and
WHEREAS, deaths in Tennessee from suspected abuse or neglect rose nearly thirty
percent over the previous year; now, therefore,
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. This act is known and may be cited as the "Savannah Grace Copeland
Act."
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 9-4-213, is amended by adding the
following new subsections:
(e) In the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and in subsequent fiscal years, any
increase in funding for positions or office expenses for the department of children's
services in child protective services must be accompanied by an increase in funding of
seventy-five percent (75%) of the increase in funding to the contracts of the child
advocacy center in each judicial district for the purpose of services to child victims in
each fiscal year.
(f) Subject to appropriation, the department of children's services shall increase
each child advocacy center contract as follows:
(1) A contract labeled as "child advocacy center" must be increased to a
base of one hundred twenty-seven thousand eight hundred fifty-five dollars and
ninety-eight cents ($127,855.98); and
(2) A contract labeled as "forensic child interviewer" must be increased to
a base of eighty-five thousand dollars ($85,000) per contracted interviewer.

- 3 - 002086

(g) In the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and in subsequent fiscal years,
funds appropriated for child advocacy centers must be allocated in accordance with the
formula in subsection (e) using the contract's applicable base in subsection (f).
SECTION 3. This act is not an appropriation of funds, and funds shall not be obligated
or expended pursuant to this act unless the funds are specifically appropriated by the general
appropriations act.
SECTION 4. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it, and
applies to contracts entered into, renewed, or amended on or after such date.