Senate Bill 1937 and House Bill 2081 aim to amend various sections of the Tennessee Code Annotated concerning child abuse and neglect. Key changes include the addition of the commissioner of mental health and substance abuse services or their designee as a member of the commission overseeing child protective services, as well as the inclusion of an at-large member with experience advocating for children. The bill also modifies existing language to expand the scope of cases reviewed by the commission, allowing for access to necessary records held by state agencies.

Further amendments include the clarification of definitions related to abuse, specifically incorporating "strangulation" into the legal framework. The bill mandates that law enforcement officers refer victims of reported child sexual abuse to child advocacy centers for forensic interviews and requires the commission to submit annual reports detailing findings and recommendations to the General Assembly. The effective dates for various sections of the bill vary, with some provisions taking effect immediately and others set for July 1, 2026, or January 1, 2027.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 37-3-804(a), 37-3-804, 37-3-804(b)(1)(A), 37-3-809, 37-3-809(1), 37-3-809(2), 37-1-102(b)(28)(A)(i), 37-1-102, 39-15-402(a)(3), 39-15-402, 39-13-506
Amended with HA0992 -- 04/21/2026: 37-3-804(a), 37-3-804, 37-3-804(b)(1)(A), 37-3-809, 37-3-809(1), 37-3-809(2), 37-1-102(b)(28)(A)(i), 37-1-102, 39-15-402(a)(3), 39-15-402, 39-13-506, 37-3-804(b)(1)(B)(i), 37-3-804(b)(1)(B)(ii), 37-3-803, 37-1-130