Health, Dept. of

Plain English Breakdown

The bill now requires only the provision of educational materials on blood lead level testing for pregnant women instead of mandatory testing.

Blood Lead Level Testing Requirements

This bill requires blood lead level testing for children before attending certain schools and pregnant women receiving food vouchers, and mandates wraparound services for those with elevated levels or poisoning.

What This Bill Does

• Requires the Department of Health to provide blood lead level tests for all children prior to attendance at public pre-K-12 schools.
• Ensures that children with high blood lead levels receive immediate screening to determine if educational services pursuant to federal law may be required.
• Guarantees wraparound services for children diagnosed with lead poisoning.
• Requires juvenile detention facilities to provide appropriate care for juveniles with elevated blood lead levels or lead poisoning in collaboration with health and education agencies.
• Mandates the Department of Health to make available educational materials on blood lead level testing for pregnant women receiving food vouchers, along with specialized nutritional services and other mandated wraparound services.

Who It Names or Affects

• Children attending public pre-K-12 schools
• Pregnant women participating in the special supplemental food program
• Juveniles in juvenile detention facilities with elevated blood lead levels or lead poisoning

Terms To Know

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

Federal law that ensures educational services for children with disabilities.

Wraparound Services

Comprehensive support services tailored to the needs of individuals or families dealing with complex issues, such as lead poisoning.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not apply if a parent or guardian opts out of testing for their child.
• Details on funding and staffing requirements are provided but do not specify how these will be implemented.

Official Summary Text

PRE-K
–
12 STUDENTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

This bill requires the department of health to make available and require blood lead level testing for all children prior to attendance at public schools that service any combination of pre-K-12 students. A child so tested who has elevated blood lead le
vels must be immediately screened to determine if educational services pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act may be required. A child so tested who has lead poisoning must receive mandated wraparound services appropriate for lead po
is
oned children. However, these provisions do not apply to a child whose parent or guardian opts out of such testing or referrals.

JUVENILES IN JUVENILE DETENTION CENTERS

If a juvenile detention facility that receives federal funding is aware that a juvenile in custody of such detention facility has elevated blood lead levels or lead poisoning, then this bill requires the detention facility, in collaboration with the depa
rtment of health and local education agencies, to provide wraparound services appropriate for children with elevated blood lead levels or lead poisoning for such juvenile.

PREGNANT WOMEN IN SPECIAL SUPPLMENTAL FOOD PROGRAM

This bill requires the department of health to make available and require blood lead level testing for a pregnant woman who receives vouchers for the special supplemental food program for women, infants, and children administered by the department. If a
woman is so tested and it is determined that she has elevated blood lead levels or lead poisoning, then the department must provide the woman specialized nutritional services, education on how to mitigate lead in the body, and other mandated wraparound s
er
vices tailored for people with elevated blood lead levels or lead poisoning.

ON MARCH 26, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #2 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 1255, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #2 rewrites the bill to, instead, require t
he department of health
to
make available and require educational materials on blood lead level testing for a pregnant woman who receives vouchers for the special supplemental food program for women, infants, and children.

The department of health
must
also provide the woman educational information on specialized nutritional services, education on how to mitigate lead in the body, and other existing wraparound services tailored for people with elevated
blood lead levels or lead poisoning.

Current Bill Text

SENATE BILL 1255
By Lamar

HOUSE BILL 1369
By Chism

HB1369
002625
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 37;
Title 49; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71, relative to
blood lead level testing.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 6, Part 50, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
(a) The department of health shall make available and require blood lead level
testing for all children prior to attendance at public schools that service any combination
of pre-kindergarten through grade twelve (pre-K-12) students.
(b) A child tested pursuant to this section who has elevated blood lead levels
must be immediately screened to determine if educational services pursuant to the
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. § 1400 et seq.) may be required.
(c) A child tested pursuant to this section who has lead poisoning must receive
mandated wraparound services appropriate for lead poisoned children.
(d) This section does not apply to a child whose parent or guardian opts out of
such testing or referrals required by this section.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 37, Chapter 1, Part 1, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
If a juvenile detention facility that receives federal funding is aware that a juvenile
in custody of such detention facility has elevated blood lead levels or lead poisoning,
then the detention facility shall, in collaboration with the department of health and local
education agencies, provide wraparound services appropriate for children with elevated
blood lead levels or lead poisoning for such juvenile.

- 2 - 002625

SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 68, Chapter 1, Part 1, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
The department shall make available and require blood lead level testing for a
pregnant woman who receives vouchers for the special supplemental food program for
women, infants, and children administered by the department. If a woman is tested
pursuant to this section and it is determined that she has elevated blood lead levels or
lead poisoning, then the department shall provide the woman specialized nutritional
services, education on how to mitigate lead in the body, and other mandated
wraparound services tailored for people with elevated blood lead levels or lead
poisoning.
SECTION 4. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.