This bill is a House Joint Resolution that formally honors Anthony Griffin for his service as an intern in the Tennessee House of Representatives and his achievements in leadership and academics. The resolution recognizes his specific contributions, such as staff work on the House Health Committee, policy research, and his role as a lead canvasser in a state legislative campaign. It also highlights his extracurricular leadership positions, including serving as Speaker of the Senate in a student legislature and holding officer roles in a university fraternity. Ultimately, the bill serves as a commendation from the Tennessee legislature to Griffin, acknowledging his dedication to public service and wishing him well in his future endeavors.
This House Resolution honors Representative G.A. Hardaway for his distinguished service to Tennessee and his constituents in the 93rd House District. The measure formally commends his legislative work, committee leadership, and extensive involvement in community and charitable organizations. It does not create new laws or alter policy but serves as a ceremonial acknowledgment of his career achievements.
This bill is a House Joint Resolution that formally recognizes and honors Commissioner Jeff Long of the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security on the occasion of his retirement. The resolution acknowledges his extensive career in law enforcement, which spans over 53 years and includes roles such as Williamson County Sheriff and various federal and state positions. It highlights his numerous awards and service to the state but does not create any new laws, change existing policies, or allocate funds. The primary effect of the bill is to express official appreciation for his contributions to public safety and to provide a ceremonial document for presentation to him.
House Joint Resolution 1337 honors Christopher G. Covington, the 2026 Salutatorian of Craigmont High School, for his academic achievements. The resolution formally commends him for his high grade point average and participation in extracurricular activities during his high school career. This legislative measure serves as an official recognition of his academic success and does not create any new laws or policy changes.
This bill is a House Joint Resolution that formally commends Abigail Neeley for her exemplary service as a legislative intern to Chairman Bryan Terry. The resolution recognizes her specific contributions, which include assisting with legislative research, preparing briefing materials, and supporting committee operations. It also highlights her broader background in education, legal observation, and community service as evidence of her dedication to public service. The document serves as an official acknowledgment of her performance and wishes her well for future endeavors.
SB 2168 requires Tennessee public school districts and charter schools to recognize November 7 annually as "Victims of Communism Day." It mandates that high school students in world history or geography courses receive at least 45 minutes of classroom instruction about victims of communist regimes, including specific historical examples like Stalin's Soviet Union, Mao's Cultural Revolution, and Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge. The law applies to all relevant courses starting in the 2026-2027 school year. It does not alter curriculum content beyond this required instruction period.
HB 2127 requires Tennessee courts to give the highest weight to credible evidence of physical abuse, sexual abuse, or domestic violence when determining child custody. It applies this standard equally to abuse affecting any household member, including siblings, step-siblings, or foster siblings. The bill also creates a presumption that placing a child with a parent found to have committed such abuse is not in the child's best interest, requiring courts to provide written justification if they override this presumption. This law directly affects custody decisions in cases involving abuse allegations, amending Tennessee Code Sections 36-6-106 and 36-6-406.
SB 2220 requires Tennessee's Department of Children's Services (DCS) to complete investigations into child care agencies for alleged child abuse or sexual abuse within 45 days of starting the investigation, unless "good cause" justifies a delay. The law explicitly excludes investigations into whether an agency's operator or employee committed abuse. This bill directly affects DCS and child care agencies operating in Tennessee by setting strict timelines for handling these specific investigations, effective July 1, 2026.
HB 2262 requires Tennessee's Department of Children's Services to complete investigations into child care agencies for reports of child abuse or child sexual abuse within 45 days of starting the investigation, unless "good cause" justifies a delay. This rule applies to investigations about abuse occurring at the agency but **excludes** cases where the alleged abuse was committed by an agency operator or employee. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 37-1-401 and 37-1-601 to create these deadlines for both types of abuse allegations. It takes effect July 1, 2026, and directly affects child care agencies and the state agency responsible for oversight.
SB 2433 deletes an expired pilot program from Tennessee law that previously aimed to improve parent-teacher engagement in kindergarten through second grade at two or more public schools selected by the education department. The bill amends Title 49 of the Tennessee Code by removing Section 49-6-308, which contained the outdated program details. This is a procedural change to eliminate a provision that was no longer active, with no new requirements or impacts on current schools or policies. The action reflects administrative cleanup of expired legislation, not a policy shift.
HB 2149 removes an expired pilot program from Tennessee law that previously required the state Department of Education to improve parent-teacher engagement in kindergarten through second grade at select public schools. The bill deletes Section 49-6-308 of Tennessee Code Annotated, which had established this specific program. This change affects only the Department of Education’s administrative structure, as the program was already inactive. The bill makes no new policy changes but formally eliminates a redundant legal reference.
SB 2539 changes Tennessee child custody laws by requiring courts to prioritize credible evidence of physical abuse, sexual abuse, or domestic violence when determining a child's best interests. It mandates that courts give "highest weight" to such evidence regardless of whether the abuse occurred against the child or any other household member (including siblings or step-siblings). The bill creates a presumption that placing a child with a parent found to have committed abuse is not in the child's best interest, requiring courts to provide written justification if this presumption is overridden. These changes apply to all custody decisions, including temporary orders, and require courts to review protective services records before making placements. The law directly affects Tennessee family courts, judges, and families involved in custody disputes where abuse evidence is relevant.
