Tennessee 114th General Assembly Status: Enacted Bipartisan · 1 R · 1 D cosponsors

HB 2081 — AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 37; Title 38; Title 39 and Title 40, relative to abuse of children.

Last action — Effective date(s) 05/19/2026, 07/01/2026, 01/01/2027

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed House
  4. ✓
    Passed Senate
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 21, 2026. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Bill Lee (Republican) on April 30, 2026.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

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A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 90% · high confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 2 sponsors

    1 primary, 1 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (1 R · 1 D) — cross-party backing.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 3 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

In plain language

The bill updates provisions related to child abuse and welfare in Tennessee.

This bill amends laws regarding child abuse in Tennessee by adding new members to the oversight commission and updating definitions of severe abuse. It also allows courts to request documentation of children's healthcare and enables child services to investigate potential abuse or neglect based on that documentation.

What this means for you
  • Families: Families may need to ensure compliance with pediatric care schedules to avoid investigations.

Summary

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.

Bill Text

Action History

  1. Filed for introduction

  2. Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  3. Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee

  4. Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/23/2026

  5. Action deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 3/24/2026

  6. Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/24/2026

  7. Action deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 3/25/2026

  8. Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/25/2026

  9. Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 8, Nays 1 PNV 0

  10. Sponsor(s) Added.

  11. Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/22/2026

  12. Companion House Bill substituted

  13. Sponsor(s) Added.

  14. Comp. became Pub. Ch. 1003

  15. Filed for introduction

  16. Intro., P1C.

  17. P2C, ref. to Judiciary Committee - Government Operations for Review

  18. Assigned to s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee

  19. Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/25/2026

  20. Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Judiciary Committee

  21. Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 4/1/2026

  22. Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Government Operations Committee

  23. Placed on cal. Government Operations Committee for 4/6/2026

  24. Rec. for pass; ref to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

  25. Assigned to s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee

  26. Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/8/2026

  27. Placed behind the budget

  28. Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2026

  29. Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/15/2026

  30. Rec for pass by s/c ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

  31. Placed on cal. Finance, Ways, and Means Committee for 4/15/2026

  32. Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee

  33. Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/16/2026

  34. H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/20/2026

  35. H. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA0992)

  36. Sponsor(s) Added.

  37. Passed H., as am., Ayes 86, Nays 2, PNV 0

  38. Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.

  39. Received from House, Passed on First Consideration

  40. Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.

  41. Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - SA0910)

  42. Passed Senate, Ayes 30, Nays 0

  43. Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.

  44. Signed by H. Speaker

  45. Signed by Senate Speaker

  46. Transmitted to Governor for his action.

  47. Signed by Governor.

  48. Pub. Ch. 1003

  49. Effective date(s) 05/19/2026, 07/01/2026, 01/01/2027

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 1 co-sponsors · 131 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (1)

Not signed on (131)

131 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Subjects

public-safety civil-rights
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Frequently asked questions

What does HB 2081 do?
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.
Who sponsors HB 2081?
HB 2081 is sponsored by Littleton, Mary (Republican) and Hakeem, Yusuf (Democrat).
What is the current status of HB 2081?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 21, 2026. Enacted.
Where can I track HB 2081?
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