Tennessee legislation · 114th General Assembly
Tennessee SB1937: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 37; Title 38; Title 39 and Title 40, relative to abuse of children.
Status: Chaptered, May 26, 2026
Fiscal Summary NOT SIGNIFICANT Bill Summary Present law establishes the Tennessee second look commission, which reviews an appropriate sampling of cases involving a second or subsequent incident of severe child abuse in order to provide recommendations and findings to the general assembly regarding whether or not severe child abuse cases are handled in a manner that provides adequate protection to the children of this state. This bill adds the commissioner of mental health and substance abuse services, or the commissioner's designee, to the commission. REQUESTS MADE BY SECOND LOOK COMMISSION Present law requires certain persons, teams, and agencies to provide all of the following to the second look commission upon request by the commission: Information and data concerning a second or subsequent incident of severe abuse. Cause the person most knowledgeable with the case to testify regarding any cases concerning a second or subsequent incident of severe abuse. Recommendations concerning where gaps and deficiencies may exist in the various systems involved in protecting children from severe child abuse. This bill removes the limitation that such information must concern a second or subsequent incident of severe child abuse, and requires, instead, that the information must be supplied for any case being reviewed by the commission. Additionally, the commission may request and have access to any records held by a state agency that are necessary for performance of the commission's duties and responsibilities. Further, any representative of the mental health disciplines involved in investigations conducted by provision of services to dependent and neglected youth must also provide the above to the commission upon request. SEVERE CHILD ABUSE — STRANGULATION Present law designates several acts that constitute se
What the bill says
An act to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 37; Title 38; Title 39 and Title 40, relative to abuse of children.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 37; Title 38; Title 39 and Title 40, relative to abuse of children. SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 37-3-804(a), is amended by adding the following as a new subdivision: (14) The commissioner of mental health and substance abuse services or the commissioner's designee; SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 37-3-804(b)(1)(A), is amended by deleting "subdivisions (a)(1)-(5)" wherever it appears and substituting "subdivisions (a)(1)-(5) and (a)(14)". SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 37-3-809, is amended by deleting "child protective teams," and substituting "child protective teams or the provision of services to dependent and neglected youth,". SECTION 4. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 37-3-809(1), is amended by deleting "a second or subsequent incident of severe child abuse" and substituting "a case being reviewed by the commission". SECTION 5. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 37-3-809(2), is amended by deleting "concerning a second or subsequent incident of severe abuse" and substituting "being reviewed by the commission". SECTION 6. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 37-3-809, is amended by designating the existing language as subsection (a) and adding the following subsection (b): SB1937 (b) Notwithstanding another law to the contrary, the commission may request and have access to any records held by a state agency that are necessary for performance of the commission's duties and responsibilities under this part. SECTION …
Sponsors
- Jackson, Ed (R, 25) · primary sponsor
- Gardenhire, Todd (R, 10)
- Akbari, Raumesh (D, 29)
Latest actions
- : Comp. became Pub. Ch. 1003
- : Sponsor(s) Added.
- : Companion House Bill substituted
- : Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/22/2026
- : Sponsor(s) Added.
- : Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 8, Nays 1 PNV 0
- : Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/25/2026
- : Action deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 3/25/2026
- : Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/24/2026
- : Action deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 3/24/2026
Votes
- FLOOR VOTE: Third Consideration (April 22, 2026): 30 yea, 0 nay, passed
- FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION (April 21, 2026): 86 yea, 2 nay, passed
- HOUSE FINANCE, WAYS, AND MEANS SUBCOMMITTEE: Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee (April 17, 2026): 13 yea, 0 nay, passed
- HOUSE FINANCE, WAYS, AND MEANS COMMITTEE: Rec. for pass; ref to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee (April 17, 2026): 26 yea, 0 nay, passed
- HOUSE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS COMMITTEE: Rec. for pass; ref to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee (April 6, 2026): 11 yea, 0 nay, passed
- HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Government Operations Committee (April 1, 2026): 14 yea, 1 nay, passed
Subjects: Archives, Publications, My Bills
Common questions
- What is SB1937?
- SB1937 is a bill in the Tennessee Legislature (114th General Assembly): AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 37; Title 38; Title 39 and Title 40, relative to abuse of children.
- What does SB1937 do?
- In its own words: An act to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 37; Title 38; Title 39 and Title 40, relative to abuse of children.
- What is the status of SB1937?
- Chaptered as of May 26, 2026. Latest action: Comp. became Pub. Ch. 1003 (May 26, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB1937?
- Jackson, Ed (R, 25), with 2 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for SB1937?
- On the Tennessee Legislature website: https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default?BillNumber=SB1937&GA=114
Source: official Tennessee record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.