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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PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 802
SENATE BILL NO. 2165
By Haile, Rose
Substituted for: House Bill No. 2350
By Littleton, Slater, Alexander, Bricken
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 36-1-113 and Section 37-2-415, relative to
foster parents.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 36-1-113(e), is amended by redesignating
the current language as subdivision (e)(1) and adding the following new subdivision:
(2) If the child who is the subject of the petition is in the legal custody or guardianship
of the department, then the department must provide a copy of the petition to the foster
parent of the child, if the foster parent has served as the physical placement for the child for
a period of nine (9) or more consecutive months. If the department is the petitioner, then the
department must provide the required copy within seven (7) days of the filing of the petition.
If another party is the petitioner, then the department must provide the required copy within
seven (7) days of service upon the department.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 37-2~415(a)(15), is amended by deleting
the subdivision and substituting the following:
(15) The department shall provide all information regarding the child and the child's
family background and health history, in a timely manner to the foster parent or parents. The
foster parent or parents shall receive additional or necessary information, that is relevant to
the care of the child, on an ongoing basis; provided, that confidential information received by
the foster parents, including the copy of any termination of parental rights petition provided
pursuant to § 36-1-113(e)(2), shall be maintained as such by the foster parents, except as
necessary to promote or protect the health and welfare of the child.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.
SENATE BILL NO. 2165
PASSED: April 6, 2026
RANDY McNAJ_LY
SPEAKER OF THE SEN). TE
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CAMERON SEXTON, SPEAKER
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
APPROVED this :;;t6rd day of />(x: \ 2026
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