Senate Bill 2324, also known as House Bill 2429, amends various sections of the Tennessee Code Annotated related to child custody and visitation proceedings. Notably, it modifies Section 36-6-404(b) by replacing the reference to "36-6-106 (a)(1)-(15)" with "36-6-106(a)." Additionally, the bill introduces new provisions, including Section 37-1-193, which allows 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, excluding the department. It also adds a new subdivision to Section 37-1-103(d) that permits the temporary suspension of 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 parenting schedule modifications to attend a parent education seminar, as outlined in the new Section 37-1-194. This seminar must cover topics such as enhancing children's emotional well-being and co-parenting skills, and it must be at least four hours long. The court may waive this requirement for good cause, and parents who fail to attend without a valid reason may face contempt of court. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, emphasizing the importance of education in improving parenting outcomes and reducing conflict in custody disputes.

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