Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official PDF posted by the Tennessee General Assembly, fetched 2026-09-25. Page and line markers are part of the official record; nothing is edited or removed. This is the chaptered version. The official bill page.
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Slate f/Jennessee
PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 846
SENATE BILL NO. 1989
By Rose, Bowling, Haile, Pody, Seal, Stevens
Substituted for: House Bill No. 2082
By Littleton, Reneau, Fritts, Hulsey, McCalmon, Davis
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 36, Chapter 6; Title 37, Chapter 1 and Title 39,
Chapter 15, relative to children.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 37, Chapter 1, Part 1, is amended by adding
the following as a new section:
(a) A parent's or legal guardian's action of raising, guiding, or instructing the parent's
or legal guardian's child consistent with the child's biological sex, including, but not limited to,
referring to the child by titles or pronouns consistent with the child's biological sex, or making
mental health or medical decisions based on the child's biological sex, including, but not
limited to, consenting to any lawful medical or mental health service to assist the child in
living consistent with the child's biological sex and declining any medical or mental health
service for the purpose of gender transition, must not be a basis for:
(1) A finding of abuse or severe child abuse;
(2) Determining that a child is a dependent and neglected child;
(3) Taking a child into custody pursuant to§ 37-1-113;
(4) A child to be detained or placed in shelter care pursuant to § 37-1-114 or §
37-1-116;
(5) A determination by a court that a child is in need ofimmediate protection or
that a child should be removed from the custody of the child's parent, guardian, legal
custodian, or the person who physically possesses or controls the child pursuant to §
37-1-117(b)(1);
(6) A petition pursuant to§ 37-1-120;
(7) A court to order an assessment pursuant to§ 37-1-128(b);
(8) A disposition pursuant to§ 37-1-130;
(9) Termination of parental rights under§ 37-1-147; or
(10) Committing a child to the temporary legal custody of the department of
children's services pursuant to§ 37-1-175.
(b) This section does not authorize or allow any other acts or omissions prohibited by
law that would constitute abuse of a child, severe child abuse, or a dependent and neglected
child, as defined in§ 37-1-102.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 37, Chapter 1, Part 1, is amended by adding
the following as a new section:
SB 1989
(a) A child's disagreement with a parent's or legal guardian's decision to raise, guide,
or instruct the child consistent with the child's biological sex, including, but not limited to,
referring to the child by titles or pronouns consistent with the child's biological sex, or making
mental health or medical decisions based on the child's biological sex, including, but not
limited to, consenting to any lawful medical or mental health service to assist the child in
living consistent with the child's biological sex and declining any medical or mental health
service for the purpose of gender transition, must not be a basis for:
(1) Determining that the child is an unruly child, as defined in § 37-1-102,
unless such disposition is requested by the parent or legal guardian in question;
(2) A disposition by a court pursuant to§ 37-1-132, unless such disposition is
requested by the parent or guardian in question; or
(3) An order pursuant to§ 37-1-174.
(b) This section does not authorize or allow any other acts or omissions prohibited by
this part or any other law that would meet the definition of an unruly child under§ 37-1-102.
SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-15-401, is amended by adding the
following as a new subsection:
( )(1) A parent or legal guardian of a child under eighteen (18) years of age, or any
other person providing care to or supervision of the child, does not commit a violation
of this section or§ 39-15-402 by raising, guiding, or instructing the child consistent
with the child's biological sex, including, but not limited to, referring to the child by
titles or pronouns consistent with the child's biological sex or making mental health or
medical decisions based on the child's biological sex, including, but not limited to,
consenting to any lawful medical or mental health service to assist the child in living
consistent with the child's biological sex and declining any medical or mental health
service for the purpose of gender transition.
(2) This subsection ( ) does not authorize or allow any other act or omission
that would constitute a violation under this section or§ 39-15-402.
SECTION 4. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 36, Chapter 6, Part 1, is amended by adding
the following as a new section:
(a) In determining a custody arrangement under this chapter that is in the best
interest of the child, the court shall not consider it a negative factor for a parent to raise,
guide, or instruct or intend to raise, guide, or instruct a child consistent with the child's
biological sex, including, but not limited to, referring to a child by titles or pronouns consistent
with the child's biological sex or making mental health or medical decisions based on the
child's biological sex, including, but not limited to, consenting to any lawful medical or mental
health service to assist the child in living consistent with the child's biological sex and
declining any medical or mental health service for the purpose of gender transition.
(b),This section does not limit the court from considering any other factor relevant to
determining what custody arrangement is in the best interest of the child, as provided for by
law.
SECTION 5. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.
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SENATE BILL NO. 1989
PASSED: April 14, 2026
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\ RANDY Mc~LLY
SPEAKER OF THE SENATE
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CAMERONSEXTON,SPEAKER
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
t\pn"/ APPROVED this 2:1!!:::day of 2026
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BILL LEE, GOVERNOREvery fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.