Children

Plain English Breakdown

The bill was withdrawn and its status is uncertain, so it may not be enacted as proposed.

Expanding Safe Surrender Locations for Newborns

This bill changes Tennessee laws to allow newborn babies left at an ambulance station with staff scheduled around the clock to be taken care of by child protective services.

What This Bill Does

• Adds ambulance stations that have staff scheduled all day and night to the list of places where parents can leave unwanted newborns safely.
• Changes 'is staffed' to 'has staff scheduled' in several parts of the law to clarify that staff must be planned to work at these locations.
• Updates the requirements for safe surrender locations to include licensed emergency medical services providers who have continuous staffing.

Who It Names or Affects

• Parents or guardians who want to leave unwanted newborns safely.
• Ambulance stations with staff scheduled around the clock.
• Child protective services and other agencies involved in handling surrendered infants.

Terms To Know

Safe Surrender

A legal process where parents can leave an unwanted newborn at a designated location without fear of being punished, as long as the baby is not harmed.

Emergency Medical Services Provider

An organization that provides emergency medical care and services to people in need.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill was withdrawn on January 20, 2026, so it is not currently active.
• It's unclear how many ambulance stations will meet the requirements for safe surrender locations after this change.

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

<BillNo> <Sponsor>

SENATE BILL 1674
By Massey
SB1674
010916
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 36,
Chapter 1, Part 1 and Title 68, Chapter 11, Part 2,
relative to voluntary surrendering of an infant.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 68-11-255(a)(2), is amended by
inserting the language ", ambulance station that has staff scheduled twenty-four (24) hours a
day," immediately after "a fire department that is staffed twenty-four (24) hours a day".
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 68-11-255, is amended by deleting
"is staffed" wherever it appears in subdivisions (a)(1), (a)(2), and (a)(5) and substituting "has
staff scheduled".
SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 68-11-255(a)(4)(C), is amended by
deleting the subdivision and substituting:
(C) Approved by and located inside a participating hospital, fire station,
ambulance station, police station, emergency communications center, or nursing home
that:
(i) Is licensed or otherwise legally operating in this state; and
(ii) Has staff scheduled continuously on a twenty-four-hour basis every
day by a licensed emergency medical services provider; and
SECTION 4. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 68-11-255(h), is amended by
deleting the second sentence.
SECTION 5. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.