Child Abuse - As enacted, expands the definition of child abuse to include a person under the age of 18 witnessing either the abuse of another child in the person's immediate family or household or domestic abuse of a member of the person's immediate family or household; specifies that reunification between a parent and a child placed in foster care due to abuse must not occur unless the parent has complied with the parent's statement of responsibilities in the permanency plan and the child has received mental health counseling. - Amends TCA Title 36; Title 37 and Title 39.
HB 1360 expands Tennessee's definition of child abuse to include minors under 18 who witness abuse of another child or domestic violence within their immediate family or household. It directly affects children in foster care due to abuse by requiring two specific conditions before reunification with a parent: the parent must complete their responsibilities in the permanency plan, and the child must receive mental health counseling. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 37-1-102 (defining abuse) and adds a new provision to Title 37 governing foster care reunification. These changes create concrete requirements for family reunification processes, focusing on parental accountability and child mental health support.
Bill status
died
3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 10, 2025
Last action May 13, 2025
Floor votes · House Apr 8, 2025
How they voted
20–0
Passed
Total votes 20
Apr 8, 2025
D
Democratic6
100% Yea
R
Republican14
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
22
Key actions
9
Committee
11
Apr 9, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/10/2025
lower
Apr 8, 2025
Lower · Passed
Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee
lower
Apr 8, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (20-0)
house
Apr 2, 2025
Lower · Passed
Action def. in Judiciary Committee to 4/9/2025
lower
Apr 2, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 4/9/2025
lower
Mar 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 4/2/2025
lower
Mar 25, 2025
Committee
Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Judiciary Committee
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
Feb 12, 2025
Committee
P2C, ref. to Judiciary Committee
lower
Feb 12, 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
Mary Littleton
RRepublican
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