SB 450 Tennessee Senate · 114th Regular Session (2025-2026)

Public Funds and Financing - As enacted, enacts the "Savannah Grace Copeland Act." - Amends TCA Title 9; Title 12; Title 37; Title 39 and Title 49.

SB 450, the "Savannah Grace Copeland Act," increases funding for Tennessee's child advocacy centers, which serve abused and neglected children across all judicial districts. It requires that any future funding increase for the Department of Children's Services' child protective services must include a 75% corresponding increase for child advocacy center contracts. The bill sets new base contract amounts: $127,855.98 for full centers and $85,000 per forensic child interviewer. These changes take effect July 1, 2025, but require separate legislative appropriations to be implemented. The bill addresses decades of stagnant funding, aiming to support centers that served over 32,000 children in 2024 with forensic interviews, medical exams, and mental health services.
Sub-Topics: Mental Health
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Feb 10, 2025 Last action May 27, 2025
Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
27
Key actions
6
Committee
7
Apr 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 11, Nays 0 PNV 0
upper
Apr 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/21/2025
lower
Apr 14, 2025
Lower · Passed
Rule #83(8) Suspended, to be heard in Senate Finance, Ways & Means Committee on 4/15/2025
lower
Apr 14, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/15/2025
lower
Mar 4, 2025
Lower · Passed
Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
lower
Feb 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/4/2025
lower
Feb 12, 2025
Committee
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee
upper
Feb 10, 2025
Introduced
Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Becky Massey
Becky Massey
RRepublican
TN
6