Tennessee legislation · 114th General Assembly
Tennessee HB1903: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 26; Title 30; Title 33 and Title 52, relative to homestead exemptions.
Status: Chaptered, May 5, 2026
Fiscal Summary NOT SIGNIFICANT Bill Summary Present law provides that an individual, whether a head of family or not, is entitled to a homestead exemption upon real property which is owned by the individual and used by the individual or the individual's spouse or dependent, as a principal place of residence. The aggregate value of such homestead exemption must generally not exceed $35,000. However, individuals who jointly own and use real property as their principal place of residence are entitled to homestead exemptions, the aggregate value of which exemptions combined must not exceed $52,500, which must be divided equally among them in the event the homestead exemptions are claimed in the same proceeding. If only one of the joint owners of real property used as their principal place of residence is involved in the proceeding wherein homestead exemption is claimed, then the individual's homestead exemption is $35,000. Upon the death of an individual who is head of a family, present law requires any such exemption as described above to inure to the benefit of the surviving spouse and their minor children for as long as the spouse or the minor children use such property as a principal place of residence. This bill requires such exemption to also inure to the benefit of a surviving child who is 18 or older and has a developmental disability or an intellectual disability. Present law provides, if real estate is so situated that homestead cannot be set apart, then the realty is to be sold and $35,000 of the proceeds invested in real estate, under the direction of the court having jurisdiction to be held as homestead subject to the law governing homestead, or if the court deems it more desirable and practical, it may order the payment of $35,000 in cash or other personal property outright and in fee to the surviving spouse, if any,
What the bill says
An act to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 26; Title 30; Title 33 and Title 52, relative to homestead exemptions.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 26; Title 30; Title 33 and Title 52, relative to homestead exemptions. SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 26-2-301(a), is amended by deleting the last sentence and substituting: Upon the death of an individual who is head of a family, any such exemption shall inure to the benefit of the surviving spouse and their minor child or child who is eighteen (18) years of age or older and has a developmental disability or intellectual disability for as long as the spouse, minor child, or child who is eighteen (18) years of age or older and has a developmental disability or intellectual disability uses such property as a principal place of residence. SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 26-2-301(a), is amended by redesignating the existing subsection (a) as subdivision (a)(1) and adding the following as a new subdivision (a)(2): (2) As used in this subsection (a), "developmental disability" and "intellectual disability" have the same meaning as defined in § 52-1-101. SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 30-2-201, is amended by deleting the section and substituting: The homestead in lands of a decedent, inuring to the benefit of a surviving spouse, minor child, or a child who is eighteen (18) years of age or older and has a developmental disability or intellectual disability, is …
Sponsors
- Terry, Bryan (R, 48) · primary sponsor
- Powell, Jason (D, 53)
- Salinas, Gabby (D, 96)
- Russell, Lowell (R, 21)
- Hardaway, G.A. (D)
Latest actions
- : Comp. became Pub. Ch. 709
- : Sponsor(s) Added.
- : Comp. SB subst.
- : H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 3/26/2026
- : Sponsor(s) Added.
- : Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 3/19/2026
- : Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee
- : Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/18/2026
- : Action def. in Judiciary Committee to 3/18/2026
- : Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/11/2026
Votes
- FLOOR VOTE: Motion to Concur House Amendment # 1 (March 30, 2026): 31 yea, 0 nay, passed
- FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION (March 26, 2026): 88 yea, 0 nay, passed
- HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee (March 18, 2026): 18 yea, 0 nay, passed
- HOUSE CIVIL JUSTICE SUBCOMMITTEE: Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Judiciary Committee (March 4, 2026): 7 yea, 0 nay, passed
- FLOOR VOTE: Motion to Adopt (February 23, 2026): 32 yea, 0 nay, passed
- SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee (February 17, 2026): 9 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: Archives, Publications, My Bills
Common questions
- What is HB1903?
- HB1903 is a bill in the Tennessee Legislature (114th General Assembly): AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 26; Title 30; Title 33 and Title 52, relative to homestead exemptions.
- What does HB1903 do?
- In its own words: An act to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 26; Title 30; Title 33 and Title 52, relative to homestead exemptions.
- What is the status of HB1903?
- Chaptered as of May 5, 2026. Latest action: Comp. became Pub. Ch. 709 (May 5, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB1903?
- Terry, Bryan (R, 48), with 4 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB1903?
- On the Tennessee Legislature website: https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default?BillNumber=HB1903&GA=114
Source: official Tennessee record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.