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SB1513 • 2026

Sunset Laws

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 29 and Title 37, Chapter 5, relative to the department of children's services.

Children
Active

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

Sponsor
Jackson, Lafferty
Last action
2026-03-25
Official status
Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 9, Nays 0 PNV 0
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on whether other state agencies' sunset reviews will be updated or if there is a specific penalty for non-compliance with reporting requirements.

Sunset Laws for Department of Children's Services

This bill extends the operation period of Tennessee's Department of Children's Services until June 30, 2029, and requires a report on progress addressing issues from a recent audit.

What This Bill Does

  • Extends the current operation period for the Department of Children's Services to June 30, 2029.
  • Requires the department to report back to the government operations committee by December 31, 2026.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Department of Children's Services in Tennessee
  • Government operations committees and other relevant oversight bodies

Terms To Know

Sunset Laws
Laws that set a specific date after which a government agency or program will end unless it is renewed.
Performance Audit Report
A detailed review of how well an organization, like the Department of Children's Services, is performing its duties and meeting goals.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what will happen after June 30, 2029.
  • It is unclear if there are any penalties for failing to submit the required report by December 31, 2026.

Amendments

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

Amendment 1-0 to HB1572

Plain English: The amendment changes Section 2 of Senate Bill No. 1513 to add a new subdivision that includes the Department of Children's Services.

  • Removes existing SECTION 2 from the bill.
  • Adds a new subdivision to Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 4-29-249(a), which specifically mentions the Department of Children's Services.
  • The exact impact and details of including the Department of Children's Services in this section are not fully explained by the amendment text.
Amendment 1-0 to SB1513

Plain English: The amendment changes Section 2 of the bill to add a specific reference to the Department of Children’s Services in Tennessee Code Annotated.

  • Removes existing SECTION 2 from the bill.
  • The exact content and purpose of the removed SECTION 2 are not provided, making it unclear what was originally there.
  • It is not clear how this amendment will affect the Department of Children’s Services or other sections of the bill.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/16/2026

  2. 2026-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/14/2026

  3. 2026-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  4. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Government Operations Committee for 4/14/2026

  5. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  6. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Government Operations Committee calendar for 3/25/2026

  7. 2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Government Operations Committee

  8. 2026-01-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  9. 2026-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Government Operations Committee

  10. 2026-01-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  11. 2026-01-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  12. 2026-01-07 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 1572
By Lafferty

SENATE BILL 1513
By Jackson
SB1513
010070
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4,
Chapter 29 and Title 37, Chapter 5, relative to the
department of children's services.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 4-29-247(a), is amended by deleting
subdivision (18).
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 4-29-250(a), is amended by inserting
the following as a new subdivision:
( ) Department of children's services, created by §§ 4-3-101 and 37-5-101;
SECTION 3. The department of children's services shall report back to the education,
health, and general welfare joint evaluation committee by December 31, 2026, to update the
committee on its progress in addressing the findings and observations set forth in the December
2025 performance audit report issued by the division of state audit.
SECTION 4. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.