Human Services, Dept. of - As introduced, enacts the "Guaranteed Basic Income Act" or the "Protection Against Automation Act," which requires the department to develop and implement a program in which eligible residents are awarded an annual guaranteed basic income grant beginning in 2026. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 9; Title 67, Chapter 4 and Title 71.

SB 1355 proposes the "Guaranteed Basic Income Act," which would require Tennessee's Department of Human Services to create a program providing eligible residents with an annual $3,000 grant starting in 2026. It directly affects Tennessee residents aged 18+ who hold a valid TN ID, live full-time in the state, and resided there the previous year. The program would pay the grant monthly or semi-monthly upon application, with recipients needing to reapply yearly. Funding would come from a dedicated state fund, including state appropriations and potential tax allocations, with unspent balances carried forward annually. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Health and Welfare Committee.