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PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 730
SENATE BILL NO. 2324
By Haile, Powers
Substituted for: House Bill No. 2429
By Farmer
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 36 and Title 37, relative to children.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 36-6-404(b), is amended by deleting "§
36-6-106 (a)(1 )-(15)" and substituting"§ 36-6-106(a)".
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 37, Chapter 1, Part 1, is amended by adding
the following as a new section:
37-1-193. Attorney's fees in child-related proceedings.
A prevailing party may recover reasonable attorney's fees, court costs, and other
litigation expenses, which may be fixed and allowed in the court's discretion, from the
nonprevailing party in a proceeding before the juvenile court that concerns the custody or
visitation of a child, the relocation of a parent with a child, the support of a child, or the
adjudication of a child as dependent and neglected, whether at an initial hearing or at a
subsequent hearing. However, an award of attorney's fees, costs, or expenses under this
section shall not be made for or against the department.
SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 37-1-103(d), is amended by adding the
following as a new subdivision:
(4) Notwithstanding this subsection (d), in the event a child is alleged to be dependent
and neglected and is removed from the physical custody of the original custodial parent, the
court having original jurisdiction or the court exercising temporary jurisdiction may enter an
order temporarily suspending the current child support obligation during the pendency of the
dependency and neglect proceeding.
SECTION 4. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 37, Chapter 1, Part 1, is amended by adding
the following as a new section:
37-1-194. Parent education seminar in juvenile cases.
(a)(1) In a proceeding before a juvenile court to establish or modify the custody or a
permanent parenting schedule of a child born to parents who were not married to
each other, each parent must attend a parent educational seminar. This requirement
applies upon the adjudication of parentage under title 36, chapter 2, and in any post-
parentage proceedings to modify custody or visitation.
(2) Each parent must complete the seminar as soon as practicable after legal
parentage has been established or after the petition for modification is filed and
before the court enters a final order adjudicating or modifying the permanent
parenting arrangement.
(b) The parent educational seminar required by this section must conform to the
standards as described in § 36-6-408. The seminar must:
SB 2324
(1) Be at least four (4) hours in duration, educational in nature, and not
designed for individual therapy;
(2) Instruct parents on how to protect and enhance their child's emotional well-
being during and after the proceeding;
(3) Inform parents about the court process and teach co-parenting skills,
including techniques for reducing conflict; and
(4) Include the following:
(A) At least one (1) thirty-minute video on adverse childhood
experiences, as described in § 36-6-408; and
(B) A discussion on topics such as alternative dispute resolution, the
judicial process, and domestic violence, as described in § 36-6-408.
(c) A minor child shall not attend or participate in the seminar.
(d) The fees or costs of attending the seminar is the responsibility of the parties. The
court may assess or allocate the fees between the parents as the court deems equitable. If a
parent is indigent, then the court shall waive the fee for that parent upon proper motion or
affidavit.
(e) Each parent must file a certificate of completion with the juvenile court clerk as
proof of compliance with the seminar requirement. A court shall not deny the entry of an
order for failure of a party to attend the educational session.
(f)(1) If the court finds good cause, then the court may waive the seminar requirement
for one (1) or both parents. Good cause may include:
(A) A significant history of domestic violence between the parties that
would make joint participation unsafe;
(8) A party's prolonged absence or inability to participate; or
(C) Another circumstance in which requiring the seminar would be
impractical, counterproductive, or contrary to the child's best interest.
(2) A motion for waiver may be made by a party or by the court on the court's
own initiative. If the court waives the requirement, then the court's order shall state
the specific reasons constituting good cause.
(3) Attendance at the parent educational seminar is not required solely upon
the establishment of parentage in cases in which a petition for custody, visitation, or
modification of a parenting schedule is not pending.
(g)(1) A parent who willfully fails or refuses to attend the seminar as ordered, absent a
waiver, pursuant to subsection (f), or unavoidable circumstances, may be punished
as a contempt of court.
(2) If a parent unjustifiably fails to attend or complete the seminar, then the
court shall consider such failure as a fcictor in making custody and visitation
determinations. The court may treat noncompliance as evidence of the parent's lack
of good faith and cooperation. However, the court shall not refuse to adjudicate the
parent's rights solely due to failure to attend the seminar.
(h)(1) In a proceeding where a child is alleged or adjudicated to be dependent and
neglected or in a juvenile proceeding under this chapter, the juvenile court, in its
discretion, may order any parent, legal guardian, or custodian of the child to attend
the parent educational seminar described in this section if the court finds that doing
so would likely be beneficial to the child's best interests or to the resolution of the
case for the purpose of utilizing parent education as a tool in appropriate cases,
including circumstances in which the court determines the seminar may improve
parenting skills or reduce conflict.
(2) If the court orders attendance, then all requirements pursuant to this
section regarding seminar content, fee waivers, proof of completion, and enforcement
apply to the extent practicable.
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SB 2324
SECTION 5. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 36-8-103, is amended by adding the
following as a new subsection:
(h) This chapter does not supersede, repeal, or abrogate any provision of statutory
law, court rule, case law, or order issued by a court. This chapter does not limit the authority
of a court or judicial officer, including judges and magistrates, to issue or enforce orders
pursuant to law, rule, or judicial precedent.
SECTION 6. The headings in this act are for reference purposes only and do not constitute a
part of the law enacted by this act. However, the Tennessee Code Commission is requested to
include the headings in any compilation or publication containing this act.
SECTION 7. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.
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SENATE BILL NO. 2324
PASSED: March 30, 2026
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SPEAKER OF THE;NATE
CAMEROl'rSEXTON,SPEAKER
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Aer, \ APPROVED this IY,\:l. day of 2026
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BILL LEE, GOVERNOREvery fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.