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HB0915 • 2026

Salaries and Benefits

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 8-50-813, relative to state employees.

Children Healthcare Labor
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Sparks, Massey
Last action
2025-05-15
Official status
Comp. became Pub. Ch. 423
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and official text do not provide specific details on how the department of human resources will give guidance and further clarify definitions.

Tennessee State Employee Leave Act

This law updates Tennessee's state employee leave policy to include paid leave for caring for a family member with a serious health condition and clarifies other aspects of existing leave policies.

What This Bill Does

  • Adds six weeks of paid leave for state employees who need to care for a family member with a serious health condition, in addition to existing leave options.
  • Defines 'family member' as including immediate relatives like children, parents, and spouses, plus grandparents or siblings if there is a close relationship equivalent to a family bond.
  • Specifies that 'serious health condition' means an illness requiring hospitalization or ongoing care from a healthcare provider.
  • Limits the total amount of paid leave for births, adoptions, or caring for sick family members to six weeks within any 12-month period.
  • Allows employees to take this leave on a reduced schedule or intermittently as needed.

Who It Names or Affects

  • State employees who have worked full-time for at least one year with certain state entities.

Terms To Know

Eligible employee
A state employee who has been employed full-time for at least twelve consecutive months with specific state entities.
Family member
Includes immediate relatives and close associates equivalent to family relationships, such as grandparents or siblings.
Serious health condition
An illness requiring hospitalization or ongoing care from a healthcare provider.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The exact fiscal impact of the bill cannot be calculated due to multiple unknown variables.
  • The effective date is January 1, 2026, not July 1, 2025 as initially proposed.

Amendments

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

Amendment 1-0 to HB0915

Plain English: The amendment changes Tennessee's state employee leave policy to provide six weeks of paid leave for certain family and medical reasons, with specific conditions on notice requirements and eligibility.

  • Adds a new provision allowing eligible employees up to six workweeks of paid leave due to the birth or adoption of a child or caring for a family member with a serious health condition.
  • Specifies that this leave must be taken within twelve months after the qualifying event, unless it's for a serious health condition, in which case it can be spread over a year without being consecutive.
  • Defines 'eligible employee' as someone who has worked full-time for at least one year with certain state entities and sets conditions on what qualifies as a 'serious health condition'.
  • Includes provisions for employees to receive additional leave starting January 1, 2026, if they are caring for a family member under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act.
  • The amendment text is detailed but may require further explanation of specific legal terms like 'entity described in §§ 8-30-102(a)' which might be unclear to non-lawyers.
  • It's not clear from the provided text how this will affect employees who are already eligible under federal law and what happens if they exceed the six-week limit.
Amendment 2-0 to HB0915

Plain English: The amendment changes Tennessee's state employee leave policy to provide six weeks of paid leave for certain family and medical reasons.

  • Adds a new section allowing eligible employees up to six workweeks of paid leave due to the birth or adoption of a child, or caring for a family member with a serious health condition.
  • Limits the total amount of paid leave an employee can take in a twelve-month period to six weeks, which does not need to be taken consecutively and can be used intermittently.
  • Defines 'eligible employees' as those who have worked full-time for at least one year with specific state entities.
  • The amendment text is complex and includes technical legal language that may require further clarification or context to fully understand all implications.
Amendment 1-0 to SB0322

Plain English: The amendment changes Tennessee's state employee leave policy to provide six weeks of paid leave for certain family-related reasons and health conditions.

  • Adds a new provision allowing eligible employees up to six workweeks of paid leave due to the birth or adoption of a child, caring for a family member with a serious health condition, or similar situations.
  • Limits an employee to no more than six weeks of such paid leave within any twelve-month period, though it can be taken intermittently or on a reduced schedule.
  • Defines 'eligible employees' and specifies the conditions under which they qualify for this leave.
  • The amendment text does not specify all details about how the new provisions will interact with existing federal laws like the Family and Medical Leave Act, leaving some uncertainties.
Amendment 2-0 to SB0322

Plain English: The amendment changes Tennessee's state employee leave policy to provide six weeks of paid leave for certain family-related reasons and health conditions.

  • Adds a provision allowing eligible employees up to six workweeks of paid leave due to the birth or adoption of a child, or caring for a family member with a serious health condition.
  • Limits the total amount of paid leave an employee can take in a twelve-month period to six weeks, which does not need to be taken consecutively and can be used intermittently as allowed by federal law.
  • Defines 'eligible employees' as those who have worked full-time for at least one year with specific state entities.
  • The amendment text is complex and includes technical legal language that may require further clarification or context to fully understand all implications.

Bill History

  1. 2025-05-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. became Pub. Ch. 423

  2. 2025-05-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Effective date(s) 01/01/2026

  3. 2025-05-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Pub. Ch. 423

  4. 2025-05-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Governor.

  5. 2025-05-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Transmitted to Governor for action.

  6. 2025-04-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by H. Speaker

  7. 2025-04-29 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Senate Speaker

  8. 2025-04-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Enrolled and ready for signatures

  9. 2025-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. SB subst.

  10. 2025-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  11. 2025-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed H., Ayes 89, Nays 1, PNV 0

  12. 2025-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 2 - HA0515)

  13. 2025-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA0394)

  14. 2025-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Subst. for comp. HB.

  15. 2025-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  16. 2025-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  17. 2025-04-17 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  18. 2025-04-17 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  19. 2025-04-17 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  20. 2025-04-17 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  21. 2025-04-16 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  22. 2025-04-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  23. 2025-04-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

  24. 2025-04-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  25. 2025-04-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 33, Nays 0

  26. 2025-04-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - SA0198)

  27. 2025-04-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 2 - SA0417)

  28. 2025-04-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  29. 2025-04-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/16/2025

  30. 2025-04-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate Reset on calendar for 4/16/2025

  31. 2025-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  32. 2025-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed behind the budget

  33. 2025-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/15/2025

  34. 2025-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate Reset on calendar for 4/15/2025

  35. 2025-04-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/14/2025

  36. 2025-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  37. 2025-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  38. 2025-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  39. 2025-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) withdrawn.

  40. 2025-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  41. 2025-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  42. 2025-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate Reset on calendar for 4/14/2025

  43. 2025-04-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/7/2025

  44. 2025-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 4/9/2025

  45. 2025-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 4/9/2025

  46. 2025-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee

  47. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 4/2/2025

  48. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 4/2/2025

  49. 2025-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/1/2025

  50. 2025-03-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  51. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/26/2025

  52. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 3/26/2025

  53. 2025-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  54. 2025-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  55. 2025-03-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  56. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/19/2025

  57. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to State & Local Government Committee

  58. 2025-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  59. 2025-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/18/2025

  60. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Public Service Subcommittee for 3/12/2025

  61. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  62. 2025-02-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  63. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  64. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate State and Local Government Committee

  65. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Public Service Subcommittee

  66. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  67. 2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to State & Local Government Committee

  68. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  69. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  70. 2025-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  71. 2025-01-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

In addition to leave granted under
annual leave, sick leave, and leave for adoptive parents, present law requires an eligible state employee to be granted absence from work with pay for a period of time equal to six workweeks because of the birth of the employee's child or because of the p
l
acement of a child with the employee for adoption, and upon the employee giving 30-days' notice to the appropriate appointing authority. If the eligible employee learns of the birth or adoption less than 30 days in advance, then the employee must give th
e
notice as soon as reasonably possible. For the purpose of calculating service anniversary dates, this absence from work is considered full-time employment.

Beginning July 1, 2025, this bill also
requires such an eligible state employee to be granted ab
sence from work with pay for a period of time equal to six workweeks because the employee is caring for a family member with a serious health condition. Such employee must still abide by the same notice requirements. As used in this bill, "family member
"
includes an individual whose close association with the covered individual is the equivalent of a family relationship. Additionally, a "serious health condition" means an illness, injury, impairment, or physical or mental condition that involves (i) inp
a
tient care in a hospital, hospice, or residential medical care facility or (ii) continuing treatment by a healthcare provider.

Present law prohibits
such an eligible state employee from being granted more than six workweeks of such paid leave during a 12
-month period. However, the workweeks do not need to be taken consecutively.
This bill authorizes such
leave to be taken on a reduced schedule or intermittently as provided under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act.

ON APRIL 16, 2025, THE SENATE A
DOPTED AMENDMENT #2 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 322, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #2 makes the following revisions:



Clarifies that leave granted in the bill for
a qualifying birth or adoption must be used within 12 months of the qualifying birth or adoption
, but not within 12 months of a
family member's serious health condition
.



Redefines a "family member" as an
eligible employee's child, spouse, parent, or a grandchild if the grandparent has custody of the grandchild at the time leave is requested
.



Redefines a "serious health condition" as
an illness or condition that involves hospice care
.



Authorizes t
he department of human resources
to
give guidance and further clarify the definitions of "serious health condition" and "family member" by policy
.



Provides that i
f an eligible employee is caring for a family member with a serious health condition prior to January 1, 2026, and has not used all of the leave to which the employee is entitled under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act, if applicable, then the employee is entitled to leave under
the bill
beginning on January 1, 2026, for the remainder of leave to which the employee is entitled under
such
federal
a
ct, if applicable, on or after January 1, 2026, as a result of the employee caring for a family member with a serious health condition.
However, t
he duration of paid leave must not exceed the paid leave available under
the bill.



Changes the effective date from July 1, 2025, to January 1, 2026.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 322
By Massey

HOUSE BILL 915
By Sparks

HB0915
001917
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 8-
50-813, relative to state employees.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 8-50-813(a), is amended by deleting
the subsection and substituting:
(a) In addition to leave granted under §§ 8-50-801, 8-50-802, and 8-50-806, an
eligible employee must be granted absence from work with pay for a period of time equal
to six (6) workweeks because of the birth of the employee's child or the placement of a
child with the employee for adoption, or because the employee is caring for a family
member with a serious health condition, and upon the employee giving thirty-days' notice
to the appropriate appointing authority. If the eligible employee learns of the birth,
adoption, or family member’s serious health condition less than thirty (30) days in
advance, the employee shall give the notice as soon as reasonably possible. For the
purpose of calculating service anniversary dates, this absence from work is considered
full-time employment.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 8-50-813(d), is amended by deleting
the subsection and substituting:
(d) An eligible employee must not be granted more than six (6) workweeks of
paid leave under subsection (a) during a twelve-month period, but the workweeks do not
need to be taken consecutively. Leave granted under subsection (a) may be taken on a
reduced schedule or intermittently as provided under 29 U.S.C. § 2612 of the federal
Family and Medical Leave Act. An eligible employee may receive no more than six (6)

- 2 - 001917

workweeks of paid leave during a twelve-month period, even if there is more than one
(1) qualifying birth, adoption, or family member’s serious health condition under
subsection (a). Leave granted pursuant to this section must be used within twelve (12)
months of the qualifying birth, adoption, or family member’s serious health condition.
SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 8-50-813(e), is amended by deleting
the subsection and substituting:
(e) As used in this section:
(1) "Eligible employee" means:
(A) An employee who has been employed full-time with the state
for at least twelve (12) consecutive months with an entity described in §§
8-30-102(a), 8-30-102(b)(2), 8-30-102(b)(6)-(7), and 8-30- 102(b)(10)-
(13); or
(B) An employee who has been employed full-time with the state
for at least twelve (12) consecutive months with an entity described in §
8-30-102(b)(9), except for an employee of any administrative board or
commission that is attached to an entity described in § 8-30-102(b)(1) or
§ 8-30-102(b)(3)-(5);
(2) "Family member" means:
(A) A child;
(B) A biological, adoptive, or foster parent, stepparent or legal
guardian of an employee or an employee's spouse or domestic partner, or
a person who stood in loco parentis when the employee or the
employee's spouse or domestic partner was a minor child;
(C) A person to whom the employee is legally married under the
laws of any state, or a domestic partner of an employee;

- 3 - 001917

(D) A grandparent, grandchild, or sibling (whether a biological,
foster, adoptive, or step relationship) of the employee or the employee's
spouse or domestic partner; or
(E) Another individual related by blood or whose close
association with the covered individual is the equivalent of a family
relationship; and
(3) "Serious health condition" means an illness, injury, impairment, or
physical or mental condition that involves:
(A) Inpatient care in a hospital, hospice, or residential medical
care facility; or
(B) Continuing treatment by a healthcare provider.
SECTION 4. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it.