Tennessee legislation · 114th General Assembly
Tennessee HB2154: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 16; Title 20; Title 33; Title 34; Title 36 and Title 37, relative to guardians ad litem.
Status: Chaptered, April 29, 2026
Fiscal Summary NOT SIGNIFICANT Bill Summary ON MARCH 5, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 2355, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 rewrites the bill to, instead, require a guardian ad litem appointed by the court to complete training appropriate to that role, including training in early childhood, child, and adolescent development. However, the court may appoint a person as a guardian ad litem that has not completed such training if that person completes the required training within three years of the date of the person's initial appointment. Persons appointed as a guardian ad litem prior to July 1, 2026, can continue to be appointed and serve as a guardian ad litem, if such a person completes the required training before July 1, 2029.
What the bill says
From the amended text:
House Judiciary 1 Amendment No. 1 to HB2154 Farmer Signature of Sponsor AMEND S e n ate Bill No. 2355 House Bill No. 2154* by deleting all language after the enacting clause and substituting: SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 36-4-132, is amended by adding the following as a new subsection: (d) (1) A guardian ad litem appointed by the court must complete training appropriate to that role. The training must include, but is not limited to, training in early childhood, child, and adolescent development provided by a qualified professional. (2) Notwithstanding subdivision (d)(1), a court may appoint a person as a guardian ad litem who has not yet completed the training required by this subsection (d); provided, that the person must complete the required training within three (3) years following the date of the person's initial appointment as a guardian ad litem. SECTION 2. A person serving as a guardian ad litem appointed pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 36-4-132, prior to July 1, 2026, may continue to be appointed and serve as a guardian ad litem notwithstanding the training requirements of this act; provided, that the person must complete the required training before July 1, 2029. SECTION 3. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it. HA0862