HB 2081 Tennessee House · 114th Regular Session (2025-2026)

Children - As enacted, adds the commissioner of mental health and substance abuse services, and one at large member with experience advocating for children, to the Tennessee second look commission; revises certain severe and aggravated child abuse offenses to include offenses involving strangulation; authorizes a court to order a child's custodian to submit certain documentation of compliance with preventative pediatric care consistent with the periodicity schedule of the American Academy of Pediatrics in certain situations; authorizes the department of children's services to initiate a visit to ascertain the wellbeing of a child if such documentation contains allegations of abuse or neglect. - Amends TCA Title 37; Title 38; Title 39 and Title 40.

HB 2081 amends Tennessee laws related to child abuse and sexual abuse by adding the commissioner of mental health and substance abuse services to the Second Look Commission (Section 1). It updates legal definitions to include "strangulation" in abuse statutes (Sections 7, 8) and requires law enforcement officers to refer victims of child sexual abuse to child advocacy centers for forensic interviews (Section 9). The bill also expands the commission’s access to state agency records for its work (Section 6). These changes directly affect child protective teams, law enforcement, and child advocacy centers handling abuse cases. Most provisions take effect July 1, 2026.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Apr 2026
House Passage
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
May 2026
Signed into Law
May 2026
Introduced Feb 2, 2026 Signed May 19, 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
35
Key actions
17
Committee
16
Amendments
1
May 19, 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 22, 2026
Introduced
Received from House, Passed on First Consideration
lower
Apr 22, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate, Ayes 30, Nays 0
upper
Apr 21, 2026
Lower · Passed
H. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA0992)
lower
Apr 21, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed H., as am., Ayes 86, Nays 2, PNV 0
lower
Apr 15, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/15/2026
lower
Apr 15, 2026
Committee
Rec for pass by s/c ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
lower
Apr 15, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Finance, Ways, and Means Committee for 4/15/2026
lower
Apr 15, 2026
Lower · Passed
Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee
lower
Apr 15, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/16/2026
lower
Apr 8, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2026
lower
Apr 6, 2026
Lower · Passed
Rec. for pass; ref to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
lower
Apr 6, 2026
Committee
Assigned to s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee
lower
Apr 6, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/8/2026
lower
Apr 1, 2026
Lower · Passed
Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Government Operations Committee
lower
Apr 1, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Government Operations Committee for 4/6/2026
lower
Mar 25, 2026
Committee
Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Judiciary Committee
lower
Mar 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 4/1/2026
lower
Mar 18, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/25/2026
lower
Feb 4, 2026
Committee
P2C, ref. to Judiciary Committee - Government Operations for Review
lower
Feb 4, 2026
Committee
Assigned to s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee
lower
Feb 2, 2026
Introduced
Intro., P1C.
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Mary Littleton
Mary Littleton
RRepublican
TN
78