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SB0326 • 2026

Human Services, Dept. of

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 8; Title 38; Title 39; Title 45; Title 68 and Title 71, relative to abuse of elderly or vulnerable adults.

Active

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

Sponsor
Massey, Powers
Last action
2026-04-14
Official status
Sponsor(s) Added.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on enforcement mechanisms or follow-up actions after a report is made using the toll-free number.

Amending Laws to Protect Elderly and Vulnerable Adults

This bill changes Tennessee laws to require the Department of Human Services to advertise a toll-free number on its website for reporting abuse or exploitation of elderly or vulnerable adults.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the Department of Human Services to put a toll-free phone number prominently on their main webpage.
  • The phone number allows people to report when an older person or someone who needs extra care is being hurt, neglected, or taken advantage of financially.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Department of Human Services in Tennessee
  • People who use the website of the Department of Human Services
  • Elderly or vulnerable adults and those who report abuse on their behalf

Terms To Know

Toll-free telephone service
A phone number that people can call for free to report abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of elderly or vulnerable adults.
Vulnerable adult
An individual who is unable to care for themselves and may be at risk of harm due to their age or disability.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how the Department of Human Services will enforce this requirement.
  • It's unclear what additional steps, if any, are taken after a report is made using the toll-free number.

Amendments

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

Amendment 1-0 to HB0354

Plain English: The amendment changes how the bureau responds to reports of suspected elder financial exploitation by allowing the bureau to investigate on its own when appropriate.

  • Removes the requirement for the bureau to coordinate with the district attorney general and other agencies immediately upon receiving a report.
  • Adds that the bureau may conduct an investigation independently if it deems it necessary.
  • The amendment does not specify under what circumstances the bureau can decide to investigate on its own, leaving this decision to the discretion of the bureau.
Amendment 1-0 to SB0326

Plain English: The amendment changes how the bureau responds to reports of suspected elder financial exploitation by allowing the bureau to investigate such cases directly when appropriate.

  • Removes the requirement for the bureau to coordinate with the district attorney general and other agencies upon receiving a report of suspected elder financial exploitation.
  • Adds that the bureau may conduct its own investigation into reported elder financial exploitation if it deems it necessary.
  • The amendment does not specify under what circumstances the bureau can decide to investigate directly, leaving this decision-making process unclear.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  2. 2026-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Companion House Bill substituted

  3. 2026-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate, Ayes 32, Nays 0

  4. 2026-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - SA0971)

  5. 2026-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.

  6. 2026-04-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/14/2026

  7. 2026-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Received from House, Passed on First Consideration

  8. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.

  9. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  10. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed H., as am., Ayes 93, Nays 1, PNV 0

  11. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA0967)

  12. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  13. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  14. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/8/2026

  15. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  16. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/2/2026

  17. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  18. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Health and Welfare Committee calendar for 4/1/2026

  19. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  20. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  21. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Reset on Final calendar of Senate Health and Welfare Committee

  22. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/25/2026

  23. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee to 3/25/2026

  24. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Health and Welfare Committee calendar for 3/18/2026

  25. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  26. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  27. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/18/2026

  28. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee to 3/18/2026

  29. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/11/2026

  30. 2026-03-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee

  31. 2026-03-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Ref. to Judiciary Committee

  32. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  33. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  34. 2025-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, caption bill, held on desk - pending amdt.

  35. 2025-01-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  36. 2025-01-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  37. 2025-01-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

ON APRIL 8, 2026, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 354, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #1 rewrites this bill to provide the TBI with discretion to investigate reports of suspected elder financial exploitation.

Upon receiving a report of suspected elder financial exploitation, present law requires the TBI to coordinate with the district attorney general and, when appropriate, with other law enforcement agencies and adult protective services for additional inves
tigation of the reported exploitation. This amendment instead provides that, upon receiving a report of suspected elder financial exploitation, the TBI is authorized to investigate the matter when appropriate, and coordinate with the district attorney ge
ne
ral in the appropriate judicial district, other law enforcement agencies, and adult protective services for additional investigation of the reported exploitation.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 354
By Powers

SENATE BILL 326
By Massey

SB0326
001939
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 8;
Title 38; Title 39; Title 45; Title 68 and Title 71,
relative to abuse of elderly or vulnerable adults.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 71-6-122, is amended by adding the
following at the end of the section:
The department shall advertise the toll-free telephone service prominently on the home
page of the department's website.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.