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HB1131 • 2026

Children's Services, Dept. of

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 8; Title 33; Title 34; Title 36; Title 37; Title 41; Title 49; Title 68 and Title 71, relative to children.

Children
Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor
Parkinson, Yarbro
Last action
2025-04-09
Official status
Failed in Judiciary Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on the specific updates or changes to other sections of Tennessee law, only that it amends multiple titles.

Children's Services Reporting Act

This bill requires the Department of Children's Services to report child support information to the governor and general assembly each year by January 31.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the Department of Children's Services to submit annual reports on child support by January 31.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Department of Children's Services
  • The governor and general assembly

Terms To Know

Department of Children's Services
A state agency that works on issues related to children, like child support.
General Assembly
The group of people who make laws for Tennessee.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify consequences if the report is late.
  • Only mandates reporting and does not alter how child support operates.
  • This bill did not pass in its current session.

Amendments

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

Amendment 1-0 to SB1331

Plain English: The amendment changes Tennessee law to create a presumption in favor of joint legal custody and equally shared parenting time for children, which can only be rebutted with strong evidence.

  • Adds a presumption that joint legal custody and equal parenting time is best for the child, unless proven otherwise by a preponderance of the evidence.
  • Requires courts to base any deviation from this presumption on written findings and conclusions, and mandates these details in custody orders.
  • Modifies existing law to include the new presumption when considering what's best for the child.
  • The amendment text does not specify how exactly the court will conduct investigations or define 'equally shared parenting time'.

Bill History

  1. 2025-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Re-refer to Senate Calendar Committee

  2. 2025-04-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/15/2025

  3. 2025-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Failed in Judiciary Committee

  4. 2025-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  5. 2025-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 7, Nays 1 PNV 0

  6. 2025-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 4/9/2025

  7. 2025-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Judiciary Committee to 4/9/2025

  8. 2025-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 4/8/2025

  9. 2025-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 4/8/2025

  10. 2025-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 4/2/2025

  11. 2025-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 4/2/2025

  12. 2025-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 4/1/2025

  13. 2025-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 4/1/2025

  14. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 4/2/2025

  15. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Judiciary Committee to 4/02/2025

  16. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/31/2025

  17. 2025-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 4/1/2025

  18. 2025-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/25/2025

  19. 2025-03-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  20. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/26/2025

  21. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/24/2025

  22. 2025-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  23. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Children and Family Affairs Subcommittee for 3/18/2025

  24. 2025-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Children and Family Affairs Subcommittee to 3/18/2025

  25. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Children and Family Affairs Subcommittee for 3/11/2025

  26. 2025-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Children and Family Affairs Subcommittee

  27. 2025-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Ref. to Judiciary Committee

  28. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, caption bill, held on desk - pending amdt.

  29. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee

  30. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  31. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  32. 2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  33. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 1331
By Yarbro

HOUSE BILL 1131
By Parkinson

HB1131
003116
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4;
Title 8; Title 33; Title 34; Title 36; Title 37; Title 41;
Title 49; Title 68 and Title 71, relative to children.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 36-5-712, is amended by deleting
"on January 31, 1998, and annually thereafter" and substituting "on or before January 31 of
each year".
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.