KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Tennessee

SB2494 • 2026

Governor

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

Children Education
Active

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

Sponsor
Kyle, Hale
Last action
2026-04-01
Official status
Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Health and Welfare Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not provide details on what happens if the general assembly does not authorize a decision, and its impact on future decisions by the governor is uncertain.

Governor's Authority on Summer EBT Program

This bill prohibits the governor of Tennessee from deciding whether to join or leave the summer electronic benefits transfer program without permission from the general assembly.

What This Bill Does

  • Prohibits the governor from making decisions about joining or leaving the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) program unless authorized by a joint resolution from the general assembly.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The governor of Tennessee
  • State agencies involved in welfare programs

Terms To Know

Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) Program
A federal program that provides food assistance to children during the summer months when school meals are not available.
General Assembly
The state legislature of Tennessee, which consists of two houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify what happens if the general assembly does not authorize a decision.
  • It is unclear how this bill will affect current or future Summer EBT program decisions by the governor.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Health and Welfare Committee

  2. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  3. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Taken off notice for cal in s/c Health Subcommittee of Health Committee

  4. 2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  5. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Reset on Final calendar of Senate Health and Welfare Committee

  6. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Health Subcommittee for 3/25/2026

  7. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Health Subcommittee to 3/25/2026

  8. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  9. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  10. 2026-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  11. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  12. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  13. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  14. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  15. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor change.

  16. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  17. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  18. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Health Subcommittee

  19. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Health Committee

  20. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  21. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  22. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  23. 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 2193
By Salinas

SENATE BILL 2494
By Kyle
SB2494
012199
- 1 -

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

WHEREAS, the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) program, also known as
SUN Bucks, in 2024 served over seven hundred thousand (700,000) children in this state; and
WHEREAS, Governor Bill Lee turned down over eighty-four million dollars ($84,000,000)
in 2025 from the Summer EBT program; now, therefore,
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 71, Chapter 3, is amended by adding
the following as a new part:
71-3-201.
Notwithstanding a law to the contrary, the governor shall not make a decision
regarding the option to not enroll this state in or to disenroll this state from the summer
electronic benefits transfer program, provided by the food and nutrition service, an
agency of the United States department of agriculture, unless the requirement in § 71-3-
202 has been met.
71-3-202.
The general assembly may authorize by joint resolution for the governor to not
enroll in or to disenroll from the summer electronic benefits transfer program.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.