HB 386 Tennessee House · 114th Regular Session (2025-2026)

Children - As enacted, increases the age of an infant from 14 days or younger to 45 days or younger who can be received by a facility without the mother being subject to criminal liability. - Amends TCA Title 36, Chapter 1, Part 1 and Title 68, Chapter 11, Part 2.

HB 386 changes Tennessee law to allow mothers to voluntarily surrender newborns at designated facilities without facing criminal charges for up to 45 days after birth, instead of the previous 14-day limit. This directly affects mothers who choose to surrender their infants and the facilities that accept these surrenders under the state's safe haven laws. The bill amends specific sections of Tennessee Code (Titles 36 and 68) to update the age window for this process. The change aims to provide more time for mothers to make this decision while ensuring infants are placed in safe care.
Bill status in committee 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 3, 2025 Last action May 15, 2025
Floor votes · House Apr 17, 2025

How they voted

280
Passed
Total votes 28
Apr 17, 2025
D Democratic7
7 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican21
21 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
21
Key actions
11
Committee
13
Apr 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
lower
Apr 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee
lower
Apr 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/17/2025
lower
Apr 17, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (28-0)
house
Apr 16, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/17/2025
lower
Apr 9, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2025
lower
Feb 26, 2025
Committee
Assigned to s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee
lower
Feb 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 3/5/2025
lower
Feb 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
Rec. for pass; ref to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
lower
Feb 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Health Committee
lower
Feb 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Health Committee for 2/25/2025
lower
Feb 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Health Subcommittee for 2/19/2025
lower
Feb 5, 2025
Committee
P2C, ref. to Health Committee
lower
Feb 5, 2025
Committee
Assigned to s/c Health Subcommittee
lower
Feb 3, 2025
Introduced
Intro., P1C.
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Ed Butler
Ed Butler
RRepublican
TN
41