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SB2198 • 2026

Welfare

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4 and Title 71, relative to welfare.

Children
Active

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

Sponsor
Watson, Littleton
Last action
2026-04-14
Official status
Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/21/2026
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide details on what information must be included in the written notice or how current practices will be affected.

Welfare Notice Requirements

This bill changes Tennessee's laws to require written notices for temporary assistance eligibility decisions.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes Tennessee law to say that the Department of Human Services must give a written notice when they decide on someone’s eligibility for temporary assistance.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who apply for temporary assistance from the Department of Human Services in Tennessee.
  • The Department of Human Services in Tennessee.

Terms To Know

Temporary Assistance
Financial help given by the government to people who need it, usually for a short time.
Department of Human Services
A state agency that helps people with social services and welfare programs.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what information must be included in the written notice.
  • It is unclear how this change will affect current practices at the Department of Human Services.

Amendments

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

Amendment 1-0 to HB2353

Plain English: The amendment adds a new section to Senate Bill No. 2198 that establishes a pilot program using artificial intelligence and other technologies to detect fraud in publicly funded child care payments.

  • Adds a new section titled 'Child Care Payment Integrity Pilot Program' to Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 71.
  • Establishes a two-year pilot program starting July 1, 2026, aimed at detecting and preventing fraud in child care payment assistance programs using advanced technologies like artificial intelligence.
  • Requires the commissioner of human services to compile progress reports by July 31, 2027, and a final report by July 31, 2028.
  • The amendment text does not specify how much funding will be allocated for the pilot program.
  • Details on specific technologies to be used beyond artificial intelligence are not provided in the amendment.
Amendment 1-0 to SB2198

Plain English: The amendment adds a new section to Tennessee's laws that establishes a pilot program using artificial intelligence and other technologies to detect fraud in publicly funded child care assistance payments.

  • Adds a new section (71-1-128) to Title 71 of the Tennessee Code Annotated, creating a pilot program for detecting fraud in child care payment assistance.
  • The pilot program will use artificial intelligence and other technologies to track attendance and identify irregularities or anomalies in payments.
  • Requires the commissioner to compile progress reports by July 31, 2027, and a final report by July 31, 2028.
  • The amendment does not specify how much funding will be allocated for the pilot program.
  • Details on the specific technologies to be used are left undefined in the text provided.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/21/2026

  2. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2026

  3. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed behind the budget

  4. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee Ayes 8, Nays 1 PNV 0

  5. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/8/2026

  6. 2026-03-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee

  7. 2026-03-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass; ref to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

  8. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Health and Welfare Committee calendar for 4/1/2026

  9. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Government Operations Committee for 3/30/2026

  10. 2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Government Operations Committee

  11. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Reset on Final calendar of Senate Health and Welfare Committee

  12. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Health Committee for 3/24/2026

  13. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Health Committee

  14. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Health and Welfare Committee calendar for 3/18/2026

  15. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Health and Welfare Committee to 3/18/2026

  16. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Health and Welfare Committee calendar for 3/17/2026

  17. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Health Subcommittee for 3/18/2026

  18. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Health Subcommittee to 3/18/2026

  19. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Health Subcommittee for 3/11/2026

  20. 2026-03-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor change.

  21. 2026-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  22. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Health Subcommittee

  23. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Ref. to Health Committee - Government Operations for Review

  24. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Health and Welfare Committee

  25. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  26. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  27. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  28. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  29. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 2353
By Littleton

SENATE BILL 2198
By Watson
SB2198
012228
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4 and
Title 71, relative to welfare.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 71-3-107(f), is amended by deleting
"notice" and substituting "written notice".
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.