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SB2678 • 2026

Education

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, relative to education.

Children Education
Active

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

Sponsor
Oliver, Hemmer
Last action
2026-02-05
Official status
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Education Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The exact implementation details of how schools will ensure the number is conspicuous are not specified.

Posting Child Abuse Reporting Number

This bill requires Tennessee schools to post a specific phone number on their websites for reporting suspected child abuse or neglect.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires each elementary and secondary school in Tennessee to post the toll-free telephone number operated by the department of children's services on their website.
  • The posted phone number is used for receiving reports of child abuse or neglect.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Elementary and secondary schools in Tennessee
  • People who use these school websites to report suspected cases of child abuse or neglect

Terms To Know

Toll-free telephone number
A phone number that people can call without paying long-distance charges.
Department of Children's Services
The government agency responsible for protecting children from abuse and neglect in Tennessee.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify how schools should promote or publicize the phone number beyond posting it on their websites.
  • It is unclear if this bill will be signed into law by the governor.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Education Committee

  2. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  3. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  4. 2026-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  5. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  6. 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 2484
By Hemmer

SENATE BILL 2678
By Oliver
SB2678
012093
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49,
relative to education.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-6-304, is amended by adding the
following as a new subsection:
(d) Each elementary and secondary school shall post the toll-free telephone
number operated by the department of children's services to receive reports of child
abuse or neglect in a conspicuous location on the school's website.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.