Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

Tennessee Senate Bill SB0560 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1
2	2	HOUSE BILL 347
3	3	By Hurt
4	4
5	5	SENATE BILL 560
6	6	By Jackson
7	7
8	8
9	9	SB0560
10	10	001763
11	11	- 1 -
12	12
13	13	AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 36;
14	14	Title 37 and Title 39, relative to children.
15	15
16	16	BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
17	17	SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 36-1-102(1)(D), is amended by
18	18	inserting the following before the period:
19	19	, but does not include the failure to meet the needs of a child solely due to financial
20	20	hardship unless reasonable material resources such as cash assistance, safe and stable
21	21	housing, or tangible goods have been offered to and refused by the parent
22	22	SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 36-1-113(i)(1), is amended by adding
23	23	the following as a new subdivision:
24	24	(U) The individual economic circumstances of each parent;
25	25	SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 36-1-113, is amended by deleting
26	26	subdivision (i)(2) and substituting:
27	27	(2) When considering the factors set forth in subdivision (i)(1):
28	28	(A) The court must not weigh a factor against a parent solely due to
29	29	financial hardship unless reasonable material resources such as cash
30	30	assistance, safe and stable housing, or tangible goods have been offered to and
31	31	refused by the parent; and
32	32	(B) The prompt and permanent placement of the child in a safe
33	33	environment is presumed to be in the child's best interest.
34	34
35	35
36	36	- 2 - 001763
37	37
38	38	SECTION 4. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 37-1-102(b)(1), is amended by
39	39	designating the current language as subdivision (b)(1)(A) and adding the following as a new
40	40	subdivision (b)(1)(B):
41	41	(B) "Abuse" does not exist when the alleged harm is solely due to a parent or
42	42	guardian's financial hardship, unless reasonable material resources such as cash
43	43	assistance, safe and stable housing, or tangible goods have been offered to and refused
44	44	by the parent or guardian;
45	45	SECTION 5. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 37-1-102(b)(13), is amended by
46	46	designating the current language as subdivision (b)(13)(A) and adding the following as a new
47	47	subdivision (b)(13)(B):
48	48	(B) "Dependent and neglected child" does not mean a child who meets any of
49	49	the criteria listed in subdivision (b)(13)(A) solely due to a parent or guardian's financial
50	50	hardship unless reasonable material resources such as cash assistance, safe and stable
51	51	housing, or tangible goods have been offered to and refused by the parent or guardian;
52	52	SECTION 6. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 37-1-102(b)(27), is amended by
53	53	designating the current language as subdivision (b)(27)(A) and adding the following as a new
54	54	subdivision (b)(27)(B):
55	55	(B) "Severe child abuse" does not include situations that meet any of the criteria
56	56	listed in subdivision (b)(27)(A) solely due to a parent or guardian's financial hardship
57	57	unless reasonable material resources such as cash assistance, safe and stable housing,
58	58	or tangible goods have been offered to and refused by the parent or guardian;
59	59	SECTION 7. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 37-1-147(a), is amended by inserting
60	60	the following language before the period:
61	61	; provided, that the juvenile court is not authorized to terminate the rights of a parent or
62	62	guardian solely due to a parent or guardian's financial hardship unless reasonable
63	63
64	64
65	65	- 3 - 001763
66	66
67	67	material resources such as cash assistance, safe and stable housing, or tangible goods
68	68	have been offered to and refused by the parent or guardian
69	69	SECTION 8. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 37-1-157, is amended by deleting
70	70	subsection (d) and substituting:
71	71	(d) Subsection (a) does not impose criminal liability:
72	72	(1) Upon a mother based solely upon her act of delivering a newborn
73	73	infant to a facility pursuant to § 68-11-255; or
74	74	(2) Upon a parent or guardian solely due to a parent or guardian's
75	75	financial hardship unless reasonable material resources such as cash
76	76	assistance, safe and stable housing, or tangible goods have been offered to and
77	77	refused by the parent or guardian.
78	78	SECTION 9. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 37-1-166(h), is amended by adding
79	79	the following as a new subdivision:
80	80	(3) Ameliorate conditions of financial hardship outside of the parent or guardian's
81	81	financial ability to do so, unless reasonable material resources such as cash assistance,
82	82	safe and stable housing, or tangible goods have been offered to and refused by the
83	83	parent or guardian;
84	84	SECTION 10. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-15-401, is amended by adding
85	85	the following as a new subsection:
86	86	(j) For purposes of this section, abuse or neglect does not exist when the alleged
87	87	harm is solely due to a parent or guardian's financial hardship unless reasonable
88	88	material resources such as cash assistance, safe and stable housing, or tangible goods
89	89	have been offered to and refused by the parent or guardian.
90	90	SECTION 11. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it.