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HB1495 • 2026

Welfare

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 71, Chapter 2, relative to adult day services.

Active

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

Sponsor
Slater, Haile
Last action
2026-04-02
Official status
Sponsor(s) Added.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not specify whether there are additional requirements for programs serving more adults or providing longer hours of care, nor does it mention enforcement mechanisms.

Changes to Adult Day Services

This bill amends Tennessee's laws regarding limited respite care services programs by increasing the number of hours an adult can receive care each week and allowing these programs to serve more adults at once.

What This Bill Does

  • Increases the number of hours an adult can receive care from a limited respite care service program each week from 12 to 16 hours.
  • Allows these programs to take care of up to 20 adults at once, instead of the previous limit of 15 adults.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Adults who need respite care and their caregivers
  • Religious institutions or organizations providing limited respite care services

Terms To Know

limited respite care services program
A program that provides temporary relief to primary caregivers of adults with limitations on daily activities, allowing them to take a break from their caregiving duties.
direct-care staff-to-participant ratio
The number of staff members providing care compared to the number of people receiving care in an adult day service program.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify how these changes will be enforced or monitored.
  • It is unclear if there are additional requirements for programs that now serve more adults or provide longer hours of care.

Amendments

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

Amendment 1-0 to HB1495

Plain English: The amendment changes the definition of 'limited respite care services program' to specify requirements for religious institutions or organizations providing such services.

  • Defines 'limited respite care services program' as one operated by a religious institution or organization that provides relief to caregivers and meets specific criteria, including registration with the department, record-keeping, staffing ratios, and limitations on hours of service.
  • Specifies that adults receiving services must be able to function in a group setting without constant assistance for feeding and toileting needs.
  • The amendment text does not provide details about how existing programs will transition to meet the new requirements or what happens if they do not comply.
  • It is unclear from the provided text whether this amendment affects other types of respite care services beyond those offered by religious institutions.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Senate Speaker

  2. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Enrolled and ready for signatures

  3. 2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Concurred, Ayes 28, Nays 1 (Amendment 1 - HA0809)

  4. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  5. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. SB subst.

  6. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Message Calendar for 4/6/2026

  7. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed H., as am., Ayes 88, Nays 0, PNV 6

  8. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA0809)

  9. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Subst. for comp. HB.

  10. 2026-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/2/2026

  11. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 3/26/2026

  12. 2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  13. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Health Committee for 3/24/2026

  14. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  15. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Health Subcommittee for 3/18/2026

  16. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Health Subcommittee to 3/18/2026

  17. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Health Subcommittee for 3/11/2026

  18. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Health Subcommittee to 3/11/2026

  19. 2026-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  20. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Health Subcommittee for 3/4/2026

  21. 2026-02-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  22. 2026-02-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  23. 2026-02-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

  24. 2026-02-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate, Ayes 32, Nays 0

  25. 2026-02-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Consent Calendar 2 for 2/23/2026

  26. 2026-02-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee

  27. 2026-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Health and Welfare Committee calendar for 2/18/2026

  28. 2026-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Health Subcommittee

  29. 2026-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Health Committee

  30. 2026-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  31. 2026-01-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  32. 2026-01-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  33. 2026-01-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  34. 2026-01-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

ON APRIL 2, 2026, THE HOUSE SUBSTITUTED SENATE BILL 1581 FOR HOUSE BILL 1495, ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1, AND PASSED SENATE BILL 1581, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #1 rewrites the bill to, instead, amend the definition of "limited respite care services program" as such term is used to describe a program providing adult day services. Present law provides that a limited respite care services program is exe
mpt from licensure. Present law provides that a limited respite care services program means a program with a sole purpose to provide primary care givers of appropriate adults with relief from normal caregiving duties and responsibilities and meets all of
t
he following criteria:



The program is operated by a religious institution or religious organization that provides custodial care for aging adults with limitations on activities of daily living (i) who can function in a group setting; (ii) who can feed and perform toilet functions without the assistance of a personal aide accompanying them; and (iii) who attend no more than three days each calendar week, no more than 12 hours in any one week, and no more than six hours in any one day.


The program is registered with the department of human services pursuant to a rule promulgated by the commissioner.


The program maintains records that include, at a minimum, dates and times of each adult's attendance.


The program provides care services for less than 15 adults at the same time.


The program does not administer medications to adults while under the program's care.

This amendment increases the number of hours an adult may attend such a limited respite care services program from 12 to 16 hours in any one week. Further, a program may provide care services for up to 20 adults at the same time, rather than 15, and sti
ll qualify as a limited respite care services program. However, a limited respite care services program must maintain at least the same direct-care staff-to-participant ratio required for licensed adult day services centers as provided by rule.

ON APRIL 6, 2026, SENATE CONCURRED IN HOUSE AMENDMENT #1.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 1581
By Haile

HOUSE BILL 1495
By Slater
HB1495
010456
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 71,
Chapter 2, relative to adult day services.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 71-2-402(c)(2)(A)(iii), is amended by
deleting "twelve (12)" and substituting "sixteen (16)".
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 71-2-402(c)(2)(D), is amended by
deleting "fifteen (15)" and substituting "twenty (20)".
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.