HB 1263 Tennessee House · 114th Regular Session (2025-2026)

Children - As enacted, provides, in addition to present law, an alternative method for the voluntary surrender of parental rights if executed within the geographic boundaries of the state. - Amends TCA Title 36; Title 37 and Title 68.

HB 1263 requires Tennessee's Department of Children's Services to post all adoption-related forms on its website. This affects courts, social service agencies, and individuals navigating the adoption process by making these forms easily accessible online. The bill amends Tennessee law to mandate this change, ensuring forms previously available through other channels are centralized on the department's website for public access. It does not alter adoption eligibility or procedures, only the method of form distribution.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2026
House Passage
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
May 2026
Signed into Law
May 2026
Introduced Feb 10, 2025 Signed May 7, 2026
Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
42
Key actions
23
Committee
20
Amendments
2
May 7, 2026
Signed into law
Signed by Governor.
lower
May 5, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by Senate Speaker
upper
Apr 30, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by H. Speaker
lower
Apr 20, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate, Ayes 27, Nays 4, PNV 2
upper
Apr 15, 2026
Amended
Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA0868)
lower
Apr 15, 2026
Lower · Passed
H. adopted am. (Amendment 2 - HA1062)
lower
Apr 15, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed H., as am., Ayes 96, Nays 0, PNV 0
lower
Apr 15, 2026
Introduced
Received from House, Passed on First Consideration
lower
Apr 8, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/9/2026
lower
Apr 7, 2026
Lower · Passed
Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee
lower
Apr 2, 2026
Lower · Passed
Re-ref. Judiciary Committee
lower
Apr 2, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 4/7/2026
lower
Mar 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee
lower
Mar 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 3/26/2026
lower
Mar 18, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/23/2026
lower
Mar 17, 2026
Committee
Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Judiciary Committee
lower
Mar 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Children and Family Affairs Subcommittee for 3/17/2026
lower
Mar 10, 2026
Lower · Passed
Action Def. in s/c Children and Family Affairs Subcommittee to 3/17/2026
lower
Mar 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Children and Family Affairs Subcommittee for 3/10/2026
lower
Feb 3, 2026
Lower · Passed
Def. to Special Calendar to be Published with Final Calendar in Children and Family Affairs Subcommittee
lower
Jan 28, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Children and Family Affairs Subcommittee for 2/3/2026
lower
Jan 21, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Children and Family Affairs Subcommittee for 1/27/2026
lower
Mar 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
Action Def. in s/c Children and Family Affairs Subcommittee to First Calendar of 2026
lower
Mar 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Children and Family Affairs Subcommittee for 3/25/2025
lower
Mar 18, 2025
Lower · Passed
Action Def. in s/c Children and Family Affairs Subcommittee to 3/25/2025
lower
Mar 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Children and Family Affairs Subcommittee for 3/18/2025
lower
Mar 11, 2025
Committee
Ref. to Judiciary Committee
lower
Mar 11, 2025
Committee
Assigned to s/c Children and Family Affairs Subcommittee
lower
Feb 10, 2025
Introduced
Intro., P1C.
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of William Slater
William Slater
RRepublican
TN
35