House Bill 1957, also known as Senate Bill 2357, establishes the Tennessee Council for Research of Deaf, Deaf-Blind, and Hard of Hearing Children, which will be attached to the Department of Health for administrative purposes. The council will consist of seventeen members appointed by various state officials, including the governor and the speakers of the Senate and House of Representatives. The appointments will ensure representation from individuals who are deaf, deaf-blind, or hard of hearing, as well as parents or guardians of affected children and professionals in relevant fields such as education and audiology. The council is tasked with identifying and recommending assessment tools, qualifications for assessors, and protocols for reporting data related to language development in children from birth to ten years of age.

The council will operate until it submits a report of its findings and recommendations by July 1, 2029, at which point it will cease to exist. The bill also includes provisions for the council to comply with open meetings and records laws, and it allows for electronic participation in meetings. Additionally, the council will be responsible for creating a parent resource guide and a data system to track language milestones for deaf, deaf-blind, and hard of hearing children. The act will take effect upon becoming law, emphasizing the importance of supporting the development and education of these children in Tennessee.