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HB0717 • 2026

Health Care

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 9; Title 33; Title 52; Title 67 and Title 68, relative to relief for caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease or related dementia.

Budget
Active

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

Sponsor
Jones R, Crowe
Last action
2025-05-27
Official status
Effective date(s) 05/21/2025
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details about how the $37,000 annual adjusted income limit will be adjusted beyond July 2026 and July 2027.

Caring for Caregivers Act

This bill establishes a grant program to provide financial assistance to family caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease or related dementia.

What This Bill Does

  • Establishes a pilot program that provides grants to family members who care for someone diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or related dementia and require help with at least two activities of daily living.
  • Creates the Family Caregiver Grant Fund, which receives money from state appropriations and donations to distribute these grants.
  • Limits each grant to $6,000 per year and requires caregivers to have an adjusted income of less than $37,000 annually.
  • Requires reports on the program's performance and financial status.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Family caregivers who help a relative with Alzheimer's disease or related dementia
  • Individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or related dementia who need assistance with daily activities and live at home

Terms To Know

Activities of Daily Living (ADL)
Basic tasks like eating, dressing, bathing, moving around, controlling bladder and bowel function, and using the toilet.
Adjusted Income
Total income minus half the cost of care expenses for the year.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The program operates from July 1, 2025 to December 31, 2028.
  • Grants are given on a first-come, first-served basis and depend on available funds.

Amendments

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

Amendment 1-0 to HB0717

Plain English: The amendment changes the expiration date for a specific section of Tennessee Code Annotated from December 31, 2025 to December 31, 2026.

  • Changes the expiration date in Section 52-8-203(b)(4)(B) of the Tennessee Code Annotated from December 31, 2025 to December 31, 2026.
  • The amendment text does not provide details about what Section 52-8-203(b)(4)(B) of the Tennessee Code Annotated specifically addresses beyond changing its expiration date.
Amendment 1-0 to SB0654

Plain English: The amendment creates and operates a pilot program in Tennessee to provide respite care services for caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease or related dementia.

  • Creates the Alzheimer's and dementia respite care pilot program under each of the nine area agencies on aging and disability in Tennessee.
  • Specifies that the program will operate from July 1, 2022, to December 31, 2026.
  • The exact details of how the respite care services will be provided are not specified in this amendment text.
Amendment 2-0 to SB0654

Plain English: The amendment changes the expiration date for a specific section of Tennessee Code Annotated from December 31, 2025 to December 31, 2026.

  • Changes the expiration date in Section 52-8-203(b)(4)(B) of the Tennessee Code Annotated from December 31, 2025 to December 31, 2026.
  • The amendment does not provide details about what Section 52-8-203(b)(4)(B) of the Tennessee Code Annotated entails or why it is being extended by one year.

Bill History

  1. 2025-05-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Effective date(s) 05/21/2025

  2. 2025-05-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Pub. Ch. 497

  3. 2025-05-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. became Pub. Ch. 497

  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 31, Nays 0

  11. 2025-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 2 - SA0443)

  12. 2025-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - SA0162)

  13. 2025-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.

  14. 2025-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Received from House, Passed on First Consideration

  15. 2025-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Companion House Bill substituted

  16. 2025-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.

  17. 2025-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed H., as am., Ayes 94, Nays 0, PNV 0

  18. 2025-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  19. 2025-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA0508)

  20. 2025-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/22/2025

  21. 2025-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  22. 2025-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 10, Nays 0 PNV 0

  23. 2025-04-17 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  24. 2025-04-17 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  25. 2025-04-17 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  26. 2025-04-17 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  27. 2025-04-17 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  28. 2025-04-16 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  29. 2025-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  30. 2025-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  31. 2025-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  32. 2025-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed behind the budget

  33. 2025-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  34. 2025-03-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  35. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/2/2025

  36. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  37. 2025-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  38. 2025-03-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  39. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Government Operations Committee for 3/24/2025

  40. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee Ayes 9, Nays 0 PNV 0

  41. 2025-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  42. 2025-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass; ref to Government Operations Committee

  43. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Health Committee for 3/18/2025

  44. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Health and Welfare Committee calendar for 3/19/2025

  45. 2025-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Health Committee to 3/18/2025

  46. 2025-03-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  47. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  48. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Health Committee for 3/11/2025

  49. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  50. 2025-02-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  51. 2025-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Health Subcommittee for 3/5/2025

  52. 2025-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  53. 2025-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  54. 2025-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  55. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Health and Welfare Committee

  56. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Health Subcommittee

  57. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  58. 2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Health Committee- Government Operations for Review

  59. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  60. 2025-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  61. 2025-01-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

This bill enacts the "Caring for Caregivers Act," which requires the department to establish and administer a family caregiver grant pilot program to provide grants to family careg
ivers of eligible family members in each of the three grand divisions to offset eligible expenditures incurred by the family caregivers. Such expenditures do not include the carrying out of general household maintenance activities such as painting, plumb
i
ng, electrical repairs, or exterior maintenance. The pilot program must be operated from July 1, 2025, to December 31, 2028.

As used in this bill, a "family caregiver" means an individual who provides care and support for an eligible family member; has
incurred eligible expenditures; and, for each calendar year, has an annual adjusted income from all sources that does not exceed $37,000. The adjusted income is determined by subtracting 50% of the cost of total eligible expenditures for the year from th
e
household income. An eligible family caregiver is such an individual who (i) requires assistance with at least two activities of daily living and is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or related dementia and qualifies as an adult child, spouse, parent,
o
r other relative by blood or marriage to a family caregiver; and (ii) lives in a private residential home and not in an assisted living center, nursing facility, or residential care home.

FAMILY CAREGIVER GRANT FUND

This bill creates a separate fund wit
hin the general fund to be known as the family caregiver grant fund to be composed of (i) funds appropriated by the general assembly for the fund; and (ii) gifts, grants, and other donations received by the department for the fund. Subject to the availab
i
lity of funds, the department must allocate and disperse grants each fiscal year of the pilot program period to family caregivers of eligible family members on a first-come, first-served basis. A grant awarded under this bill is limited to $6,000 per fam
i
ly caregiver in a fiscal year.

This bill provides that family caregivers continue to qualify for a grant while the eligible family member is temporarily relocated for health care to a hospital or skilled or intermediate care facility if the eligible fami
ly member indicates an intent to return to the private residential home when recovered sufficiently. It is the legislative intent that an initial appropriation in the amount of $600,000 be appropriated in fiscal year 2025-2026 in the general appropriatio
n
s act for awarding grants from the fund.

ANNUAL ADJUSTED INCOME LIMIT

This bill requires the annual adjusted income limit to be adjusted by the department on July 1, 2026, and July 1, 2027, to reflect the cost-of-living adjustment for social security re
cipients as determined by the social security administration and to be rounded to the nearest $10. The income attributable to the family caregiver applying for a grant is the income of the family caregiver and the income of the family caregiver's spouse,

if applicable.

REPORT

On or before October 1, 2026, and by October 1 of each subsequent year, until the close of the pilot program period, this bill requires the department to submit a report to the chair of the health and welfare committee of the senat
e and the chair of the committee in the house of representatives having jurisdiction over health-related matters on the status of the program and on the funds received and payments made by the family caregiver grant fund.

RULEMAKING

This bill authorizes
the commissioner to promulgate rules to effectuate this bill.

ON APRIL 21, 2025, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 717, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #1 rewrites this bill to extend the termination date for the
Alzheimer's and dementia respite care pilot program
from
December 31, 2025
, to
December 31, 2026.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 654
By Crowe

HOUSE BILL 717
By Jones R

HB0717
002698
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 9;
Title 33; Title 52; Title 67 and Title 68, relative to
relief for caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's
disease or related dementia.

WHEREAS, one in three senior citizens will die from dementia; and
WHEREAS, the caregivers of family members with Alzheimer's disease incur
replacement costs and forgone wages estimated to be $36,667 per person; and
WHEREAS, financial relief is positively related to the level of service and support
provided by informal caregivers; and
WHEREAS, it is fitting and proper that the state create a financial relief program to
benefit Alzheimer's caregivers; now, therefore,
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 52, is amended by adding the following
as a new chapter:
52-9-101. This chapter is known and may be cited as the "Caring for Caregivers Act."
52-9-102. As used in this chapter:
(1) "Activities of daily living" or "ADL" means:
(A) Ambulating, which is the extent of an individual's ability to move from
one position to another and walk independently;
(B) Feeding, which is the ability of an individual to feed oneself;
(C) Dressing, which is the ability to select appropriate clothes and to put
the clothes on without aid;

- 2 - 002698

(D) Personal hygiene, which is the ability to bathe and groom oneself and
maintain dental hygiene and nail and hair care;
(E) Continence, which is the ability to control bladder and bowel function;
and
(F) Toileting, which is the ability to get to and from the toilet without aid,
using it appropriately, and cleaning oneself;
(2) "Adjusted income" means household income minus fifty percent (50%) of the
cost of total eligible expenditures for the year;
(3) "Alzheimer's disease or related dementia" has the same meaning as defined
in § 52-8-203;
(4) "Eligible expenditures":
(A) Means uncompensated expenses paid or incurred by a family
caregiver that are directly related to assisting the family caregiver in providing
care to an eligible family member;
(B) Includes expenses paid or incurred for:
(i) The improvement or alteration to the family caregiver's or
eligible family member's primary residence to permit the eligible family
member to live in the residence and to remain mobile, safe, and
independent;
(ii) The family caregiver's purchase or lease of equipment,
including healthcare equipment, durable medical equipment, or
technology, that is necessary to assist an eligible family member in
carrying out one (1) or more ADLs; or
(iii) Respite care; and

- 3 - 002698

(C) Does not include the carrying out of general household maintenance
activities such as painting, plumbing, electrical repairs, or exterior maintenance;
(5) "Eligible family member" means an individual who:
(A) Requires assistance with at least two (2) ADLs and is diagnosed with
Alzheimer's disease or related dementia and qualifies as an adult child, spouse,
parent, or other relative by blood or marriage to a family caregiver; and
(B) Lives in a private residential home and not in an assisted living
center, nursing facility, or residential care home;
(6) "Family caregiver" means an individual who:
(A) Provides care and support for an eligible family member;
(B) Has incurred eligible expenditures; and
(C) For calendar year 2026, and each subsequent year, has an annual
adjusted income from all sources that does not exceed thirty-seven thousand
dollars ($37,000); and
(7) "Respite care" has the same meaning as defined in § 52-8-203.
52-9-103.
(a) The department shall establish and administer a family caregiver grant pilot
program to provide grants to family caregivers of eligible family members in each of the
three (3) grand divisions to offset eligible expenditures incurred by the family caregivers.
The pilot program must be operated from July 1, 2025, to December 31, 2028.
(b) There is created a separate fund within the general fund to be known as the
family caregiver grant fund. The fund is composed of:
(1) Funds appropriated by the general assembly for the fund; and
(2) Gifts, grants, and other donations received by the department for the
fund.

- 4 - 002698

(c) Subject to the availability of funds, the department shall allocate and disperse
grants each fiscal year of the pilot program period to family caregivers of eligible family
members on a first-come, first-served basis. A grant awarded under this chapter is
limited to six thousand dollars ($6,000) per family caregiver in a fiscal year.
(d) Family caregivers must continue to qualify for a grant while the eligible family
member is temporarily relocated for health care to a hospital or skilled or intermediate
care facility if the eligible family member indicates an intent to return to the private
residential home when recovered sufficiently.
(e) It is the legislative intent that an initial appropriation in the amount of six
hundred thousand dollars ($600,000) be appropriated in fiscal year 2025-2026 in the
general appropriations act for awarding grants from the fund.
(f) Moneys in the fund must be invested by the state treasurer for the benefit of
the fund in accordance with § 9-4-603. Interest accruing on investments and deposits of
the fund must be returned to the fund and remain part of the fund. Any unencumbered
moneys and any unexpended balance of the fund remaining at the end of a fiscal year
do not revert to the general fund, but must be carried forward until expended in
accordance with this section.
52-9-104. The annual adjusted income limit in § 52-9-103(6)(C) must be adjusted by the
department on July 1, 2026, and July 1, 2027, to reflect the cost-of-living adjustment for social
security recipients as determined by the social security administration and must be rounded to
the nearest ten dollars ($10.00). The income attributable to the family caregiver applying for a
grant is the income of the family caregiver and the income of the family caregiver's spouse, if
applicable.
52-9-105. The commissioner may promulgate rules to effectuate this chapter in
accordance with the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 5.

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52-9-106. On or before October 1, 2026, and by October 1 of each subsequent year,
until the close of the pilot program period, the department shall submit a report to the chair of
the health and welfare committee of the senate and the chair of the committee in the house of
representatives having jurisdiction over health-related matters on the status of the program and
on the funds received and payments made by the family caregiver grant fund.
SECTION 2. This act is not an appropriation of funds, and funds must not be obligated
or expended pursuant to this act unless the funds are specifically appropriated by the general
appropriations act.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.