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HB2573 • 2026

Education, Dept. of

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49 and Title 71, Chapter 3, Part 5, relative to child care programs.

Children Education
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Kumar, Roberts
Last action
2026-04-13
Official status
Comp. became Pub. Ch. 679
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not specify the exact date of effectiveness in plain language; however, it is mentioned in the bill text excerpt.

Child Care Program Age Requirement

This law sets a minimum age requirement for teachers and assistant teachers in child care programs for children four years old or younger.

What This Bill Does

  • Sets a rule that anyone working as a teacher or assistant teacher in a child care program must be at least 18 years old if the children are four years old or younger.
  • Changes Tennessee's laws to include this new age requirement for teachers and assistants in certain child care programs.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Teachers and assistant teachers working with children four years old or younger in child care programs.
  • Child care program operators who must follow this new age requirement for hiring staff.

Terms To Know

Tennessee Code Annotated
The official collection of laws passed by the Tennessee state government.
Public Chapter Number
A number given to a bill after it has been signed into law and becomes part of the public record.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The exact impact on child care programs is not detailed in the summary.
  • It does not specify what happens if someone under 18 is already working as a teacher or assistant teacher when the rule takes effect.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. became Pub. Ch. 679

  2. 2026-04-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Effective date(s) 07/01/2026

  3. 2026-04-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Pub. Ch. 679

  4. 2026-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Governor.

  5. 2026-03-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Transmitted to Governor for action.

  6. 2026-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by H. Speaker

  7. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Senate Speaker

  8. 2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Enrolled and ready for signatures

  9. 2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. SB subst.

  10. 2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed H., Ayes 82, Nays 0, PNV 2

  11. 2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Subst. for comp. HB.

  12. 2026-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Consent Calendar for 3/23/2026

  13. 2026-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  14. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 3/19/2026

  15. 2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

  16. 2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate, Ayes 32, Nays 0

  17. 2026-03-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Consent Calendar 2 for 3/16/2026

  18. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee

  19. 2026-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee

  20. 2026-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  21. 2026-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Education Committee calendar for 3/11/2026

  22. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  23. 2026-03-03 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  24. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Education Administration Subcommittee for 3/3/2026

  25. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Education Administration Subcommittee

  26. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Education Committee

  27. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Education Committee

  28. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  29. 2026-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  30. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  31. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
SENATE BILL 2637
By Roberts

HOUSE BILL 2573
By Kumar
HB2573
010353
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49
and Title 71, Chapter 3, Part 5, relative to child
care programs.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-1-1103(a), is amended by adding
the following as a new subdivision:
(4) An individual shall not serve as a teacher or assistant teacher in a child care
program for children who are four (4) years of age or younger unless the teacher or
assistant teacher is at least eighteen (18) years of age.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.