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SB2463 • 2026

Child Custody and Support

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 34, Chapter 1; Title 36, Chapter 5 and Title 37, Chapter 1, relative to child support.

Children Education
Active

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

Sponsor
Bailey, Rudder
Last action
2026-04-13
Official status
Passed H., Ayes 94, Nays 0, PNV 0
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide additional details on specific scenarios beyond those mentioned, such as what happens if a child turns 19 while still in high school but is not handicapped or disabled.

Child Support Age Limit

This bill changes Tennessee's child support laws to end financial support for children at age 19 unless they are handicapped or disabled.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the law so that parents no longer have to pay child support after a child turns 19, except in special cases.
  • Clarifies that if a child is still in high school when they turn 18, parents must continue to provide financial support until graduation or until the class graduates, whichever happens first.
  • Adds an exception for children who are handicapped or disabled and need continued support after turning 19.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Parents of children who will be affected by these changes in child support laws.
  • Children aged 18 to 19, especially those still in high school when they turn 18.
  • Handicapped or disabled individuals over the age of 19 who need continued financial support.

Terms To Know

handicapped
A condition that significantly limits one or more major life activities, such as walking, seeing, hearing, learning, or working.
disabled
Having a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities and may require special accommodations.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if a child turns 19 while still in high school but is not handicapped or disabled.
  • It's unclear how the change will affect existing support orders for children who are close to turning 19.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed H., Ayes 94, Nays 0, PNV 0

  2. 2026-04-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Subst. for comp. HB.

  3. 2026-04-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  4. 2026-04-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. SB subst.

  5. 2026-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Consent Calendar for 4/13/2026

  6. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/9/2026

  7. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee

  8. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 4/1/2026

  9. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Judiciary Committee to 4/1/2026

  10. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  11. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  12. 2026-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  13. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  14. 2026-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  15. 2026-03-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

  16. 2026-03-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  17. 2026-03-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate, Ayes 32, Nays 0

  18. 2026-03-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Consent Calendar 2 for 3/9/2026

  19. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Children and Family Affairs Subcommittee for 3/10/2026

  20. 2026-03-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee

  21. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  22. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee

  23. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Children and Family Affairs Subcommittee

  24. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Judiciary Committee

  25. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  26. 2026-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor withdrawn.

  27. 2026-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) withdrawn.

  28. 2026-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  29. 2026-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  30. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  31. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Present law
provides that parents are responsible for the support of their children after the child turns 18 if the child is in high school. This duty of support must continue until the child graduates from high school or until the class of which the child is a memb
er when the child turns 18 graduates, whichever is first. This bill clarifies that the duty of support does not continue after the child turns 19, unless the child is handicapped or disabled.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
HOUSE BILL 2443
By Rudder

SENATE BILL 2463
By Bailey
SB2463
012286
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 34,
Chapter 1; Title 36, Chapter 5 and Title 37,
Chapter 1, relative to child support.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 34-1-102, is amended by deleting
subsection (b) and substituting:
(b) Parents shall continue to be responsible for the support of each child for
whom they are responsible after the child reaches eighteen (18) years of age if the child
is enrolled in an accredited high school. The duty of support continues until the child
graduates from high school or the class of which the child is a member when the child
attains eighteen (18) years of age graduates, whichever occurs first, but in no event shall
support continue after the child reaches nineteen (19) years of age unless the child is
handicapped or disabled, as provided in § 36-5-101(k).
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 36-5-101, is amended by deleting
subdivision (g)(6)(B)(i) and substituting:
(i) The department's records demonstrate that the child for whom an order of
support in a Title IV-D child support case has been entered has reached eighteen (18)
years of age and has graduated from high school, or that the class of which the child is a
member when the child reached eighteen (18) years of age has graduated from high
school, the obligor has otherwise provided the department with written documentation of
such facts, or the obligor has provided the department with written documentation that a
child for whom the obligor is required to pay support has died or has married; provided,

- 2 - 012286

however, that in no event shall support continue after the child reaches nineteen (19)
years of age except as provided in subsection (k);
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.