Welfare - As introduced, requires the department of human services to develop and implement a five-year pilot program in which eligible households are awarded an annual supplemental income grant of $5,000 beginning in 2026. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 9; Title 67, Chapter 4 and Title 71.

HB 838 proposes a five-year pilot program (2026-2030) providing eligible Tennessee households with an annual $5,000 grant. To qualify, households must have at least three family members living together, file a federal tax return listing dependents, and have a combined adjusted gross income under $30,000. The Department of Human Services would administer the program, requiring annual reapplications, with funding sourced from excise/franchise tax donations, federal grants, and state revenue reserves. The program would terminate in 2030, returning unspent funds to the state’s general fund.