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SB1872 • 2026

Human Services, Dept. of

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 36-5-118 and Section 36-5-119, relative to child support.

Children
Active

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

Sponsor
Johnson, Lamberth
Last action
2026-04-06
Official status
Effective date(s) 03/25/2026
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not mention satellite offices or contractor requirements beyond setting up customer service units.

Changes to Child Support Services

This bill removes requirements for the Tennessee Department of Human Services to set up and maintain a statewide toll-free telephone line and customer service units for handling child support inquiries and complaints.

What This Bill Does

  • Removes the requirement that the department must establish, advertise, and keep a statewide toll-free telephone line for receiving and responding to citizen questions about child support collections and payments.
  • Eliminates the need for the department or its contractors to set up customer service units to handle inquiries and complaints related to child support.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Tennessee Department of Human Services
  • Citizens seeking information or help with child support issues

Terms To Know

Customer Service Unit
A part of the department that helps people by answering questions and solving problems related to child support.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what will happen to existing customer service units or how citizens will get help with their child support questions after these changes are made.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Effective date(s) 03/25/2026

  2. 2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Pub. Ch. 615

  3. 2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. became Pub. Ch. 615

  4. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Governor.

  5. 2026-03-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Transmitted to Governor for action.

  6. 2026-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by H. Speaker

  7. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Enrolled and ready for signatures

  8. 2026-03-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed H., Ayes 95, Nays 0, PNV 0

  9. 2026-03-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Subst. for comp. HB.

  10. 2026-03-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. SB subst.

  11. 2026-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Consent Calendar for 3/9/2026

  12. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 3/5/2026

  13. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee

  14. 2026-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  15. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  16. 2026-02-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

  17. 2026-02-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate, Ayes 32, Nays 0

  18. 2026-02-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Consent Calendar 2 for 2/23/2026

  19. 2026-02-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Judiciary Committee to Next Available Calendar

  20. 2026-02-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee

  21. 2026-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 2/17/2026

  22. 2026-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  23. 2026-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  24. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Children and Family Affairs Subcommittee for 2/10/2026

  25. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee

  26. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  27. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  28. 2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  29. 2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Children and Family Affairs Subcommittee

  30. 2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Judiciary Committee

  31. 2026-01-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  32. 2026-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 1627
By Lamberth

SENATE BILL 1872
By Johnson
SB1872
010038
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Section
36-5-118 and Section 36-5-119, relative to child
support.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 36-5-118, is amended by deleting the
section and substituting instead:
Notwithstanding another law to the contrary, the department of human services
serves as the state disbursement unit. The department must establish, advertise, and
maintain a customer service unit for the express purpose of receiving and responding to
citizen inquiries and complaints concerning child support collections and disbursements.
Notwithstanding another law to the contrary, if the department retains a contractor to
fulfill the department's obligations under this section, then the contractor must establish,
advertise, and maintain a customer service unit for the express purpose of receiving and
responding to citizen inquiries and complaints concerning child support collections and
disbursements.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 36-5-119, is amended by deleting the
section in its entirety.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.