Child Abuse - As enacted, expands the definition of child abuse to include a person under the age of 18 witnessing either the abuse of another child in the person's immediate family or household or domestic abuse of a member of the person's immediate family or household; specifies that reunification between a parent and a child placed in foster care due to abuse must not occur unless the parent has complied with the parent's statement of responsibilities in the permanency plan and the child has received mental health counseling. - Amends TCA Title 36; Title 37 and Title 39.
SB 1241 expands Tennessee's definition of child abuse to include children under 18 who witness another child being abused in their household or domestic violence against a family member in their home. This change directly affects minors in households experiencing abuse, as it now classifies their exposure as abuse under state law. The bill also requires that children placed in foster care due to abuse cannot be reunited with parents unless the parent follows their court-ordered plan and the child receives mental health counseling. These provisions apply to cases handled under Tennessee's child welfare system, specifically in Title 37 (child protective services) and related statutes.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Feb 10, 2025
Signed May 5, 2025
Floor votes · Senate Apr 15, 2025 · House Apr 16, 2025
How they voted
36–0
Passed
Total votes 36
Apr 15, 2025
D
Democratic6
100% Yea
R
Republican30
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
23
Key actions
10
Committee
5
Amendments
1
May 5, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by Governor.
lower
Apr 22, 2025
Upper · Passed
Signed by Senate Speaker
upper
Apr 22, 2025
Lower · Passed
Signed by H. Speaker
lower
Apr 16, 2025
Amended
Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA0335)
lower
Apr 16, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed H., Ayes 94, Nays 0, PNV 1
lower
Apr 15, 2025
Lower · Passed
Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0359)
lower
Apr 15, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 31, Nays 0
upper
Apr 1, 2025
Upper · Passed
Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 8, Nays 0 PNV 0
upper
Mar 31, 2025
Lower · Passed
Action deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 4/1/2025
lower
Mar 31, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 4/1/2025
lower
Mar 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/31/2025
lower
Feb 12, 2025
Committee
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee
upper
Feb 10, 2025
Introduced
Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Ed Jackson
RRepublican
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