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HB1572 • 2026

Sunset Laws

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 29 and Title 37, Chapter 5, relative to the department of children's services.

Children
Active

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

Sponsor
Lafferty, Jackson
Last action
2026-04-08
Official status
Placed on cal. Government Operations Committee for 4/14/2026
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not mention removing any specific part from an existing law, only extending certain laws until June 30, 2029.

Sunset Laws for Department of Children's Services

This bill extends certain parts of Tennessee's laws about children's services until June 30, 2029, and requires the Department of Children's Services to report on its progress by December 31, 2026.

What This Bill Does

  • Extends the department of children's services under certain laws until June 30, 2029.
  • Requires the Department of Children's Services to report back to the Government Operations Committee by December 31, 2026, on its progress in addressing issues from a performance audit.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Department of Children's Services
  • Government Operations Committee

Terms To Know

Sunset Laws
Laws that set a specific date when certain parts of the law will end unless they are renewed.
Performance Audit Report
A report that checks how well an organization is doing its job and suggests ways to improve.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens after June 30, 2029.
  • It's unclear if there will be further action or changes based on the report from the Department of Children's Services.

Amendments

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

Amendment 1-0 to SB1513

Plain English: The amendment changes Tennessee Code Annotated to include the Department of Children’s Services in a list related to sunset laws.

  • Adds the Department of Children's Services to the provisions listed under Title 4, Chapter 29 and Title 37, Chapter 5.
  • The exact impact or purpose of including the Department of Children’s Services in this specific section is not fully explained by the amendment text alone.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Government Operations Committee for 4/14/2026

  2. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 9, Nays 0 PNV 0

  3. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Government Operations Committee calendar for 3/25/2026

  4. 2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Government Operations Committee

  5. 2026-01-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  6. 2026-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Government Operations Committee

  7. 2026-01-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  8. 2026-01-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  9. 2026-01-07 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 1513
By Jackson

HOUSE BILL 1572
By Lafferty
HB1572
010070
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4,
Chapter 29 and Title 37, Chapter 5, relative to the
department of children's services.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 4-29-247(a), is amended by deleting
subdivision (18).
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 4-29-250(a), is amended by inserting
the following as a new subdivision:
( ) Department of children's services, created by §§ 4-3-101 and 37-5-101;
SECTION 3. The department of children's services shall report back to the education,
health, and general welfare joint evaluation committee by December 31, 2026, to update the
committee on its progress in addressing the findings and observations set forth in the December
2025 performance audit report issued by the division of state audit.
SECTION 4. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.