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HB2358 • 2026

Human Resources, Department of

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 71, relative to temporary assistance.

Children
Active

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

Sponsor
Hawk, Massey
Last action
2026-05-26
Official status
Effective date(s) 05/19/2026
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Human Resources, Department of

Present law requires the department of human services ("department") to maintain a temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) rainy-day fund, and that the funds in the TANF rainy-day fund remain unobligated in order to address unforeseen future econo mic needs.

What This Bill Does

  • Present law requires the department of human services ("department") to maintain a temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) rainy-day fund, and that the funds in the TANF rainy-day fund remain unobligated in order to address unforeseen future econo mic needs.
  • This bill adds requirements for how certain funds in the TANF rainy-day fund must be distributed.
  • This bill requires the department to annually transfer a portion of the TANF rainy-day fund to the child care and development fund in an amount sufficient to fund participation in the smart steps program by a family who (i) meets the eligibility requirem ents of the smart steps program, (ii) elects to participate in the program, and (iii) is unable to be served due to insufficient child care and development fund (CCDF) funds.
  • However, these transferred funds must not replace any current use of the child ca re and development fund and must not exceed 30% of the TANF rainy-day fund, as required by federal law, or any other amount permitted by the federal government.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

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

Amendment 1-0 to HB2358

Plain English: House Health 1 Amendment No.

  • House Health 1 Amendment No.
  • 1 to HB2358 Terry Signature of Sponsor AMEND Senate Bill No.
  • 1921* House Bill No.
  • 2358 HA0723 014994 - 1 - by deleting all language after the enacting clause and substituting: SECTION 1.
Amendment 2-0 to HB2358

Plain English: House Finance, Ways, and Means 1 Amendment No.

  • House Finance, Ways, and Means 1 Amendment No.
  • 2 to HB2358 Hicks G Signature of Sponsor AMEND Senate Bill No.
  • 1921* House Bill No.
  • 2358 HA1234 017830 - 1 - by deleting all language after the enacting clause and substituting: SECTION 1.
Amendment 1-0 to SB1921

Plain English: Senate Health and Welfare 1 Amendment No.

  • Senate Health and Welfare 1 Amendment No.
  • 1 to SB1921 Crowe Signature of Sponsor AMEND Senate Bill No.
  • 1921* House Bill No.
  • 2358 SA0732 014994 - 1 - by deleting all language after the enacting clause and substituting: SECTION 1.
Amendment 2-0 to SB1921

Plain English: Senate Finance, Ways, and Means 1 Amendment No.

  • Senate Finance, Ways, and Means 1 Amendment No.
  • 2 to SB1921 Watson Signature of Sponsor AMEND Senate Bill No.
  • 1921* House Bill No.
  • 2358 SA1071 017866 - 1 - by deleting all language after the enacting clause and substituting: SECTION 1.

Bill History

  1. 2026-05-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Effective date(s) 05/19/2026

  2. 2026-05-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Pub. Ch. 1023

  3. 2026-05-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. became Pub. Ch. 1023

  4. 2026-05-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Governor.

  5. 2026-05-07 Tennessee General Assembly

    Transmitted to Governor for his action.

  6. 2026-05-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Senate Speaker

  7. 2026-04-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by H. Speaker

  8. 2026-04-29 Tennessee General Assembly

    Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.

  9. 2026-04-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  10. 2026-04-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate, Ayes 31, Nays 0

  11. 2026-04-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 2 - SA1071)

  12. 2026-04-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - SA0732)

  13. 2026-04-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.

  14. 2026-04-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Companion House Bill substituted

  15. 2026-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Received from House, Passed on First Consideration

  16. 2026-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.

  17. 2026-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  18. 2026-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed H., as am., Ayes 88, Nays 0, PNV 1

  19. 2026-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. adopted am. (Amendment 2 - HA1234)

  20. 2026-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA0723)

  21. 2026-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/23/2026

  22. 2026-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate Reset on calendar for 4/23/2026

  23. 2026-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/22/2026

  24. 2026-04-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/21/2026

  25. 2026-04-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/20/2026

  26. 2026-04-20 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  27. 2026-04-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Finance, Ways, and Means Committee for 4/20/2026

  28. 2026-04-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

  29. 2026-04-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  30. 2026-04-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 11, Nays 0 PNV 0

  31. 2026-04-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/20/2026

  32. 2026-04-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/20/2026

  33. 2026-04-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Taken off notice for cal in s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee of Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

  34. 2026-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/21/2026

  35. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2026

  36. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed behind the budget

  37. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  38. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/8/2026

  39. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee to 4/8/2026

  40. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/1/2026

  41. 2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee

  42. 2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass; ref to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

  43. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Government Operations Committee for 3/23/2026

  44. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Government Operations Committee

  45. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee Ayes 8, Nays 0 PNV 0

  46. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Health Committee for 3/17/2026

  47. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Health and Welfare Committee calendar for 3/17/2026

  48. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Health and Welfare Committee to 3/18/2026

  49. 2026-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    No Action Taken

  50. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Health Committee for 3/10/2026

  51. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  52. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Health and Welfare Committee calendar for 3/11/2026

  53. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Health and Welfare Committee to 3/11/2026

  54. 2026-03-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  55. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  56. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Health and Welfare Committee calendar for 3/4/2026

  57. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Health and Welfare Committee to 3/4/2026

  58. 2026-02-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  59. 2026-02-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Health and Welfare Committee calendar for 2/25/2026

  60. 2026-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Health and Welfare Committee to 2/25/2026

  61. 2026-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  62. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Health Subcommittee

  63. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Health Committee - Government Operations for Review

  64. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  65. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  66. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Health and Welfare Committee calendar for 2/11/2026

  67. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  68. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  69. 2026-01-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  70. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  71. 2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Present law requires the department of human services ("department") to maintain a temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) rainy-day fund, and that the funds in the TANF rainy-day fund remain unobligated in order to address unforeseen future econo
mic needs. This bill adds requirements for how certain funds in the TANF rainy-day fund must be distributed.

This bill requires the department to annually transfer a portion of the TANF rainy-day fund to the child care and development fund in an amount sufficient to fund participation in the smart steps program by a family who (i) meets the eligibility requirem
ents of the smart steps program, (ii) elects to participate in the program, and (iii) is unable to be served due to insufficient child care and development fund (CCDF) funds. However, these transferred funds must not replace any current use of the child
ca
re and development fund and must not exceed 30% of the TANF rainy-day fund, as required by federal law, or any other amount permitted by the federal government. This bill also requires the eligible limit, sliding scale fee schedule, and co-pay policies f
or the smart steps program that were in effect on September 30, 2025, to be utilized as a minimum standard.

ANNUAL REPORT

This bill requires the department to publish an annual report on its website detailing the TANF program's and the child care and development fund's balances and expenditures. The report must include (i) expenditures in the prior fiscal year by expense c
ategory, (ii) obligated balances by expense category, (iii) any unobligated balance.

RULEMAKING

This bill authorizes the department to promulgate rules to effectuate this bill.

ON APRIL 22, 2026, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #2 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 2358, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #2 makes the following changes:



Clarifies that "department," as used in the bill, means the department of human services.


Removes the requirement for the department to annually transfer a portion of the TANF rainy-day fund, as described in present law, to the child care and development fund in an amount sufficient to fund participation in the smart steps program by a family who (i) meets the eligibility requirements of the smart steps program, (ii) elects to participate in the program, and (iii) is unable to be served due to insufficient CCDF funds.


Revises what the department must include when it annually publishes on the department's website a report on the temporary assistance for needy families program's and the child care and development fund's balances and expenditures, including (i) expenditures in the prior fiscal year by expense category and funding source, (ii) obligated balances by expense category and funding source, (iii) any unobligated balance, including the balance of the TANF rainy-day reserve, (iv) a detailed accounting of all expenditures counted towards the fifteen-percent limitation on administrative expenditures established in federal law, and (v) the number of children served in the smart steps program during the prior fiscal year, disaggregated by funding source, including TANF funds, CCDF funds, and any other funding source utilized by the department.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 1921
By Massey

HOUSE BILL 2358
By Hawk
HB2358
011335
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 71,
relative to temporary assistance.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 71-5-1204(a), is amended by adding
the language ", except as provided in § 71-5-1205," immediately after "remain unobligated".
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 71, Chapter 5, Part 12, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
71-5-1205.
(a) As used in this section:
(1) "Child care and development fund" or "CCDF" means the federal child
care and development fund established in 45 CFR 98; and
(2) "Smart steps program" means the state child care assistance
program administered by the department.
(b)
(1) The department shall annually transfer a portion of the TANF rainy-
day fund, as described in § 71-5-1204, to the child care and development fund in
an amount sufficient to fund participation in the smart steps program by a family
who:
(A) Meets the eligibility requirements of the smart steps program;
(B) Elects to participate in the program; and
(C) Is unable to be served due to insufficient CCDF funds.
(2) Such funds must not be utilized to supplant any current use of the
child care and development fund.

- 2 - 011335

(c) The TANF rainy-day funds transferred, as described in subsection (a), must
not exceed thirty percent (30%), as described in Title IV-A of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. § 604) or any other amount permitted by the federal government.
(d) The eligible limit, sliding scale fee schedule, and co-pay policies for the smart
steps program that were in effect on September 30, 2025, must be utilized as a
minimum standard for such program.
(e) The department shall annually publish on the department's website a report
on the temporary assistance for needy families program's and the child care and
development fund's balances and expenditures. The report must include:
(1) Expenditures in the prior fiscal year by expense category;
(2) Obligated balances by expense category; and
(3) Any unobligated balance.
(f) The department is authorized to promulgate rules to effectuate this section.
The rules must be promulgated in accordance with the Uniform Administrative
Procedures Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 5.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.