Education

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not provide details on enforcement or consequences for failing to comply with the requirement.

Posting Child Abuse Hotline Numbers

This bill requires Tennessee schools to include a phone number for reporting child abuse or neglect on their websites.

What This Bill Does

• Adds a new rule that all elementary and secondary schools in Tennessee must follow.
• Requires these schools to include the toll-free telephone number operated by the Department of Children's Services, which is used for reporting child abuse or neglect, on the homepage of their school website.

Who It Names or Affects

• Elementary and secondary schools in Tennessee
• People who visit these schools' websites

Terms To Know

Department of Children's Services

A government agency that helps protect children from abuse or neglect.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify how the schools should promote this information beyond putting it on their websites.
• It is unclear if there are penalties for non-compliance with this rule.

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

<BillNo> <Sponsor>

HOUSE BILL 739
By Hurt

HB0739
002746
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Chapter __ of the Public Acts of 2025
(1st Ex. Sess. – SB 6001 / HB 6004); and
Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, relative to
education.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-6-304, is amended by adding the
following as a new subsection:
(d) In addition to other postings required by this section, each elementary and
secondary school shall post the toll-free telephone number operated by the department
of children's services to receive reports of child abuse or neglect on the homepage of the
school's website.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it.