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SB1268 • 2026

Children's Services, Dept. of

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

Children
Active

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

Sponsor
Johnson, Lamberth
Last action
2025-02-12
Official status
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material did not provide specific details about the application scenarios for relative caregivers receiving state payments, so this claim was removed.

Changing Notice Requirements for Relative Caregivers

This bill changes the notice period from ten to fifteen days that the department must give relative caregivers about new requirements before receiving payments.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the number of days a department must give written notice to relatives who care for children from 10 days to 15 days.
  • Modifies specific sections in Title 37 and Title 71 of the Tennessee Code Annotated.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Relative caregivers who receive state payments for caring for children
  • The Department responsible for providing notice to these caregivers

Terms To Know

relative caregiver
A family member or close relation who takes care of a child and may get money from the government to help with expenses.
Tennessee Code Annotated
The official collection of laws for the state of Tennessee, organized by subject matter.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify what happens if notice is given less than 15 days before new requirements are put in place.
  • It does not change other parts of the law related to relative caregivers or child welfare services.

Bill History

  1. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee

  2. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  3. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  4. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  5. 2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  6. 2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 1305
By Lamberth

SENATE BILL 1268
By Johnson

SB1268
001496
- 1 -

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

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 37-2-422(e), is amended by deleting
"ten (10) days" and substituting "fifteen (15) days".
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.