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SB1683 • 2026

Tort Liability and Reform

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 29 and Title 71, Chapter 3, relative to child care.

Children Education Labor
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Haile, Farmer
Last action
2026-04-02
Official status
Transmitted to Governor for action.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material did not specify any uncertainties about the bill's application or effects beyond the stated conditions and dates.

Tennessee Child Care Hosting Safe Harbor Act

This bill provides immunity from civil liability for employers and host entities who allow licensed child care providers to operate on their property, under certain conditions.

What This Bill Does

  • Provides that an employer or host entity cannot be held liable in a civil action for damages caused by a licensed child care provider operating on their property.
  • Exempts from this immunity if the employer's or host entity's gross negligence or willful misconduct causes harm.
  • Clarifies that providing space, utilities, maintenance, security, improvements, or financial support to a child care provider does not mean the employer or host entity controls it.
  • Ensures people can still sue the child care provider directly if something goes wrong.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Employers who allow licensed child care providers on their property
  • Host entities that let licensed child care providers use their space

Terms To Know

Employer
A person or entity that subsidizes child care costs for its employees or hosts a child care provider on its premises, as long as it does not operate or manage the provider.
Host Entity
An organization like a nonprofit, faith-based group, community group, school, or property owner that lets a child care provider use their space, regardless of whether the children are employees' kids.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill only applies to actions arising on or after July 1, 2026.
  • It does not protect employers or host entities who operate, control, manage, employ, supervise, or direct the child care provider's staff.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Transmitted to Governor for action.

  2. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by H. Speaker

  3. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Senate Speaker

  4. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Enrolled and ready for signatures

  5. 2026-03-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed H., Ayes 82, Nays 1, PNV 10

  6. 2026-03-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Subst. for comp. HB.

  7. 2026-03-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. SB subst.

  8. 2026-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Consent Calendar for 3/30/2026

  9. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 3/26/2026

  10. 2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee

  11. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/23/2026

  12. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Judiciary Committee to 3/25/2026

  13. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/18/2026

  14. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Judiciary Committee to 3/18/2026

  15. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/11/2026

  16. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Judiciary Committee to 3/11/2026

  17. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/4/2026

  18. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  19. 2026-02-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Judiciary Committee to Next Available Calendar

  20. 2026-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  21. 2026-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 2/18/2026

  22. 2026-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  23. 2026-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  24. 2026-02-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

  25. 2026-02-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate, Ayes 32, Nays 0

  26. 2026-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Consent Calendar 2 for 2/9/2026

  27. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  28. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Civil Justice Subcommittee for 2/11/2026

  29. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Civil Justice Subcommittee

  30. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Judiciary Committee

  31. 2026-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  32. 2026-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee

  33. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  34. 2026-01-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 2/3/2026

  35. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  36. 2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 1/27/2026

  37. 2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee

  38. 2026-01-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  39. 2026-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

This bill generally provides, for actions arising on or after July 1, 2026, that an employer or host entity is not liable in a civil action for
damages arising from the acts or omissions of a child care provider that is licensed under state law and provides child care services on property owned, leased, or otherwise made available by the employer or host entity. However, such immunity does not a
pply if the employer's or host entity's gross negligence or willful misconduct is the proximate cause of the injury, harm, or loss. Additionally, such immunity does not apply if the employer or host entity (i) operates, controls, or manages the child car
e
provider; (ii) is licensed as a child care provider; or (iii) employs, supervises, or directs the child care provider's staff.

This bill clarifies that the provision of space, utilities, maintenance, security, capital improvements, or financial support to a child care provider, standing alone, does not constitute operation, control, or management of the child care provider. Add
itionally, this bill clarifies that its provisions do not limit or alter any right of action against a child care provider.

"EMPLOYER" DEFINED

As used in this bill, an "employer" means a person or entity that subsidizes child care costs for its employees or that hosts a child care provider on its premises as long as the employer does not operate or manage the child care provider.

"HOST ENTITY" DEFINED

As used in this bill, a "host entity" means a person or entity, including, but not limited to, a nonprofit organization, faith-based organization, community organization, educational institution, or property owner or lessee, that permits a child care pro
vider to operate on property the person or entity owns or controls, regardless of whether the children served are children of employees of the host entity.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
HOUSE BILL 1965
By Farmer

SENATE BILL 1683
By Haile
SB1683
010867
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 29
and Title 71, Chapter 3, relative to child care.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 29, Chapter 34, Part 2, is amended by
adding the following new section:
(a) This section is known and may be cited as the "Tennessee Child Care
Hosting Safe Harbor Act."
(b) As used in this section:
(1) "Child care provider" means a person or entity licensed under title 71,
chapter 3, part 5 to operate a child care agency or facility;
(2) "Employer" means a person or entity that subsidizes child care costs
for its employees or that hosts a child care provider on its premises; provided,
that the employer does not operate or manage the child care provider;
(3) "Host entity" means a person or entity, including but not limited to, a
nonprofit organization, faith-based organization, community organization,
educational institution, or property owner or lessee, that permits a child care
provider to operate on property the person or entity owns or controls, regardless
of whether the children served are children of employees of the host entity; and
(4) "Subsidize" means to pay all or part of the cost of child care services
on behalf of an employee or eligible child through reimbursement, direct
payment, tuition assistance, grants, or similar financial assistance.

- 2 - 010867

(c) Except as provided in subsection (d), an employer or host entity is not liable
in a civil action for damages arising from the acts or omissions of a child care provider
that:
(1) Is licensed under state law; and
(2) Provides child care services on property owned, leased, or otherwise
made available by the employer or host entity.
(d) Subsection (c) does not apply if the employer's or host entity's gross
negligence or willful misconduct is the proximate cause of the injury, harm, or loss.
(e) This section does not apply if the employer or host entity:
(1) Operates, controls, or manages the child care provider;
(2) Is licensed as a child care provider; or
(3) Employs, supervises, or directs the child care provider's staff.
(f) The provision of space, utilities, maintenance, security, capital improvements,
or financial support to a child care provider, standing alone, does not constitute
operation, control, or management of the child care provider.
(g) This section does not limit or alter any right of action against a child care
provider.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it, and
applies to actions arising on or after that date.