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HB1939 • 2026

Children's Services, Dept. of

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 37-5-132, relative to the department of children's services caseload management.

Children Labor
Active

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

Sponsor
Johnson, Campbell
Last action
2026-04-01
Official status
Taken off notice for cal. in Judiciary Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide details about what happens if a case manager exceeds the caseload limit.

Children's Services Caseload Management Act

This bill changes how many cases and children each worker in Tennessee’s Department of Children's Services can handle.

What This Bill Does

  • Sets a limit on the number of active cases each case manager can have at any time: no more than 12 families or 20 monitored children.
  • Requires that all active cases be resolved within one year.
  • Mandates a status review hearing in juvenile court if an active case is not resolved within one year.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Case managers working for Tennessee’s Department of Children's Services
  • Children and families involved with the department due to allegations of abuse or neglect

Terms To Know

Caseload
The number of cases a case manager is responsible for.
Status review hearing
A court meeting where the progress and next steps of an unresolved case are discussed.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify how the department will fund or staff to meet these new requirements.
  • It is unclear how this change will affect the overall workload and efficiency of the Department.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Taken off notice for cal. in Judiciary Committee

  2. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 4/1/2026

  3. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Judiciary Committee to 4/1/2026

  4. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/23/2026

  5. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Judiciary Committee to 3/25/2026

  6. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Failed in Senate Judiciary Committee

  7. 2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/17/2026

  8. 2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 3/17/2026

  9. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/18/2026

  10. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/16/2026

  11. 2026-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  12. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Children and Family Affairs Subcommittee for 3/10/2026

  13. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee

  14. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Children and Family Affairs Subcommittee

  15. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Judiciary Committee

  16. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  17. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  18. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  19. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 2111
By Campbell

HOUSE BILL 1939
By Johnson
HB1939
011582
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Section
37-5-132, relative to the department of children's
services caseload management.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 37-5-132, is amended by deleting the
section and substituting:
(a) The department shall maintain staffing levels of case managers so that each
region has enough case managers to ensure that caseloads do not exceed:
(1) Twelve (12) active cases involving no more than twelve (12) families
relating to initial assessments, including investigations of an allegation of child
abuse or neglect; or
(2) Twenty (20) children monitored and supervised in active cases
relating to ongoing services.
(b) The department shall comply with the maximum caseload limits described in
subsection (a).
(c) The department shall resolve each active case within twelve (12) months of
the opening of the case. If the department does not resolve an active case within twelve
(12) months, then the case must be brought before the juvenile court for a status review
hearing to determine what specific actions are necessary to resolve the case. At the
status review hearing, the court must issue specific and clear instructions regarding
actions that must be completed by the parties for a timely resolution of the case.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.