Senate Bill 2324 amends various sections of the Tennessee Code Annotated related to child custody and visitation proceedings. It modifies Section 36-6-404(b) by replacing the reference to "36-6-106 (a)(1)-(15)" with "36-6-106(a)." Additionally, it introduces a new section, 37-1-193, allowing a prevailing party in juvenile court proceedings concerning child custody, visitation, or support to recover reasonable attorney's fees and costs from the nonprevailing party, while explicitly stating that such awards cannot be made against the department. The bill also adds a provision to temporarily suspend child support obligations during dependency and neglect proceedings if a child is removed from the original custodial parent.

Furthermore, the bill establishes a requirement for parents involved in custody or visitation proceedings to attend a parent educational seminar, as outlined in the new section 37-1-194. This seminar aims to educate parents on protecting their child's emotional well-being and improving co-parenting skills. The seminar must be at least four hours long and cover specific topics, including adverse childhood experiences and alternative dispute resolution. The court may waive the seminar requirement for good cause, and failure to attend may be considered in custody determinations. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 36-6-404(b), 36-6-404, 37-1-103(d), 37-1-103