Child Custody and Support - As enacted, requires the court to consider any failure to pay child support, rather than failure for a period of three years or more, when making a child custody determination; clarifies that , the official text

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                            PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 321

                                                     SENATE BILL NO. 540

                                       By Stevens, Bailey, Bowling, Haile, Rose

                                             Substituted for: House Bill No. 492

                                                     By Farmer, Alexander

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 36 and Title 37, relative to child custody.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:

          SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 36-6-106(a), is amended by deleting
subdivisions (a)(15) and (16) and substituting:

                    (15) Whether a parent has failed to pay court-ordered child support; and

                    (16) Any other factors deemed relevant by the court.

          SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 36-6-106(9), is amended by deleting the
language "subdivisions (a)(1) - (15)" and substituting "subdivisions (a)(1) - (16)".

          SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 36-6-406(d)(1), is amended by deleting the
subdivision and substituting:

                    (1) A parent's neglect or substantial nonperformance of parenting responsibilities,
          including the failure to pay court-ordered child support;

          SECTION 4. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 36-6-306, is amended by adding the
following new subsection:

                    (g) The court may award reasonable attorney's fees and other litigation expenses to
          either party in an action for grandparent visitation brought under this section.

          SECTION 5. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.
         SENATE BILL NO. 540

PASSED:  April 15, 2025

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                                      RANDY 1\/tNALLY
                         SPEAKER OF THE )ENATE

                         C ,_ -

                              CAMERON SEXTON, SPEAKER
                             HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

T Mee. 0/ APPROVED this                     2025
         day of

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                        BILL LEE, GOVERNOR