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HB2262 • 2026

Children's Services, Dept. of

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 37 and Title 71, relative to investigations.

Children Labor Taxes
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Martin G, Lowe
Last action
2026-04-07
Official status
Transmitted to Governor for his action.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on funding allocation or exact positions required for DCS.

Children's Services Investigation Rules

This bill changes how Tennessee investigates reports of harm to children involving caregivers and extends the time for completing assessments.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the Department of Children's Services (DCS) to conduct an initial screening upon receiving a report about potential harm to a child involving a caregiver.
  • Allows DCS to perform a full assessment if necessary, which must be completed within 90 days after receiving the report.
  • After completing an assessment, DCS must discuss available services and interventions with caregivers to address their needs.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Children who may be harmed by a caregiver
  • Caregivers responsible for children's well-being
  • The Department of Children's Services

Terms To Know

caregiver
A person or entity that looks after and takes care of a child, including relatives, babysitters, and people who work with children in various settings.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if the investigation cannot be completed within 90 days.
  • It is unclear how additional funding will be used to support these changes.

Amendments

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

Amendment 1-0 to HB2262

Plain English: The amendment changes how Tennessee's Department of Children's Services handles reports of harm to children by defining 'caregiver' and setting new procedures for screening, assessment, and intervention.

  • Adds a definition for 'caregiver' in the state code, aligning it with existing definitions.
  • Revises the process for initial screenings after receiving reports of harm, including sexual abuse or maltreatment risks.
  • Establishes new procedures for assessments involving families and caregivers, requiring written explanations and face-to-face contacts within 90 days.
  • Outlines steps for offering community-based services to address family needs without mandatory participation.
  • The amendment text does not specify all the details of the screening instrument or assessment procedures, leaving some aspects unclear.
Amendment 1-0 to SB2220

Plain English: The amendment updates Tennessee's child protection laws by defining 'caregiver' and setting new guidelines for how reports of harm to children should be screened and investigated.

  • Adds a definition for 'caregiver' in the state code, aligning it with existing definitions.
  • Revises the process for screening reports of child harm, including determining if an investigation or assessment is needed based on risk factors.
  • Establishes requirements for conducting assessments and providing services to families and caregivers when necessary.
  • The amendment text does not specify all details about how community-based services will be provided or the exact criteria for deciding between different levels of intervention.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly

    Transmitted to Governor for his action.

  2. 2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Senate Speaker

  3. 2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by H. Speaker

  4. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.

  5. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate, Ayes 31, Nays 0

  6. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - SA0767)

  7. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.

  8. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Received from House, Passed on First Consideration

  9. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.

  10. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  11. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed H., as am., Ayes 93, Nays 0, PNV 0

  12. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA0767)

  13. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  14. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Companion House Bill substituted

  15. 2026-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/2/2026

  16. 2026-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  17. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  18. 2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  19. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  20. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  21. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  22. 2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  23. 2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  24. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Children and Family Affairs Subcommittee for 3/17/2026

  25. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  26. 2026-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Children and Family Affairs Subcommittee to 3/17/2026

  27. 2026-03-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  28. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  29. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Children and Family Affairs Subcommittee

  30. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Judiciary Committee

  31. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee

  32. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  33. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  34. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  35. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

ON APRIL 2, 2026, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 2262, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #1 rewrites the bill to, instead, require the department of children's services ("department") to make an initial screening, and potentially an assessment, upon receiving a report of harm that includes a report of harm alleging facts that invol
ve a caregiver. A "caregiver" means a person or persons or entity or entities responsible for providing for the supervision, protection, and basic needs of the child; or a relative or other person living, visiting, or working in the child's home who supe
rv
ises or otherwise provides care or assistance for the child, such as a babysitter, or who is an employee or volunteer with the responsibility for a child at an educational, recreational, medical, religious, therapeutic, or other setting where children are
present. However, a "caregiver" may also include a person who has allegedly used the child for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation of a minor or trafficking a minor for a commercial sex act, including, but not limited to, as a trafficker.

This amendment extends the amount of time an assessment must be completed, from 45 days to 90 days, after receiving a report of potential harm. The department must consult with a caregiver about available services and potential interventions to address
the caregiver's needs following the completion of an assessment.

This amendment also changes the effective date of the bill from July 1, 2026, to January 1, 2027.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 2220
By Lowe

HOUSE BILL 2262
By Martin G
HB2262
011153
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 37
and Title 71, relative to investigations.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 37, Chapter 1, Part 4, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
The department of children's services must complete any investigation of a child
care agency involving allegations of child abuse within forty-five (45) days of
commencing the investigation, except for good cause shown. This section does not
apply to an investigation into allegations that an operator or employee of a child care
agency committed child abuse.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 37, Chapter 1, Part 6, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
The department of children's services must complete any investigation of a child
care agency involving allegations of child sexual abuse within forty-five (45) days of
commencing the investigation, except for good cause shown. This section does not
apply to an investigation into allegations that an operator or employee of a child care
agency committed child sexual abuse.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.