Tennessee 114th General Assembly Status: Enacted Bipartisan · 3 D · 2 R cosponsors

SB 0879 — AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 71, Chapter 5, Part 3, relative to food assistance.

Last action — Effective date(s) 05/22/2026, 07/01/2026

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

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 03, 2025. 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 96% · high confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 5 sponsors

    1 primary, 4 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (3 D · 2 R) — 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 requires a food assistance application form for inmates preparing for release.

This legislation mandates the commissioner of human services to create a food assistance application for inmates. It aims to support those preparing for their reentry into society.

What this means for you
  • Workers: If you're involved in the correctional system, this could streamline food assistance processes for inmates upon their release.

Summary

Human Services, Dept. of - As enacted, requires the commissioner to provide the commissioner of correction with a form application for food assistance for use by inmates who are preparing for release. - Amends TCA Title 71, Chapter 5, Part 3.

Bill Text

Action History

  1. Filed for introduction

  2. Sponsor(s) Added.

  3. Intro., P1C.

  4. P2C, ref. to Health Committee

  5. Sponsor(s) withdrawn.

  6. Sponsor change.

  7. Assigned to s/c Health Subcommittee

  8. Placed on s/c cal Health Subcommittee for 3/11/2026

  9. Sponsor(s) Added.

  10. Action Def. in s/c Health Subcommittee to 3/18/2026

  11. Placed on s/c cal Health Subcommittee for 3/18/2026

  12. Action Def. in s/c Health Subcommittee to 3/25/2026

  13. Placed on s/c cal Health Subcommittee for 3/25/2026

  14. Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Health Committee

  15. Placed on cal. Health Committee for 3/31/2026

  16. Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

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

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

  19. Placed behind the budget

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  27. Sponsor(s) Added.

  28. Comp. SB subst.

  29. Comp. became Pub. Ch. 1060

  30. Filed for introduction

  31. Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  32. Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Health and Welfare Committee

  33. Sponsor(s) Added.

  34. Placed on Senate Health and Welfare Committee calendar for 3/17/2026

  35. Action deferred in Senate Health and Welfare Committee to 3/18/2026

  36. Placed on Senate Health and Welfare Committee calendar for 3/18/2026

  37. Reset on Final calendar of Senate Health and Welfare Committee

  38. Placed on Senate Health and Welfare Committee calendar for 4/1/2026

  39. Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 7, Nays 2 PNV 0

  40. Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/14/2026

  41. Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0977)

  42. Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 31, Nays 1

  43. Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

  44. Sponsor(s) Added.

  45. Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.

  46. Sponsor(s) Added.

  47. Subst. for comp. HB.

  48. Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA0939)

  49. Passed H., Ayes 92, Nays 0, PNV 0

  50. Enrolled and ready for signatures

  51. Signed by Senate Speaker

  52. Signed by H. Speaker

  53. Transmitted to Governor for action.

  54. Signed by Governor.

  55. Pub. Ch. 1060

  56. Effective date(s) 05/22/2026, 07/01/2026

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 4 co-sponsors · 128 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (4)

Not signed on (128)

128 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 128 →

"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 agriculture
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Frequently asked questions

What does SB 0879 do?
Human Services, Dept. of - As enacted, requires the commissioner to provide the commissioner of correction with a form application for food assistance for use by inmates who are preparing for release. - Amends TCA Title 71, Chapter 5, Part 3.
Who sponsors SB 0879?
SB 0879 is sponsored by Reeves, Shane (Republican), Campbell, Heidi (Democrat), Oliver, Charlane (Democrat), Yarbro, Jeff (Democrat), and Gardenhire, Todd (Republican).
What is the current status of SB 0879?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 03, 2025. Enacted.
Where can I track SB 0879?
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Last checked for changes about 2 months ago · updated continuously

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