Housing (People with Disabilities)

HB 1903 expands Tennessee's homestead property tax exemption to include adult children (18+ years old) with developmental or intellectual disabilities who live in the family home after the death of the head of household. The bill amends Tennessee law to extend the exemption to these adult children - previously only minor children or spouses were covered - provided they continue using the property as their primary residence. It references existing definitions of "developmental disability" and "intellectual disability" from Tennessee Code §52-1-101 to clarify eligibility. The changes apply to property tax protections under Titles 26, 30, 33, and 52 of Tennessee Code, effective July 1, 2026.

SB 1935 extends Tennessee's homestead exemption - a property tax protection - to adult children (18+ years old) with developmental or intellectual disabilities when a head of household dies. Currently, the exemption covers surviving spouses and minor children; this bill adds eligible adult children who live in the home as their primary residence. The law uses existing definitions of "developmental disability" and "intellectual disability" from state code, and ensures that if property can't be protected as homestead, $35,000 in proceeds must be allocated to the adult child or spouse. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and directly affects families with disabled adult children facing potential loss of their home after a parent's death.

SB 110 expands an existing residential pilot program for people with disabilities to include the eastern part of Tennessee, which previously only covered the western and middle regions. It requires one facility in each grand division (eastern, middle, western) and sets specific eligibility rules for eastern division participants, including a minimum 26-acre property in a county with 108,600-108,700 residents (per 2020 census), offering services for up to 60 additional adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities, and dedicating 25% of homes to inclusive housing. Applications for eastern division participation must be submitted by March 31, 2026, with facilities needing completion by June 30, 2028. The bill modifies licensing and reporting requirements for these facilities under Tennessee’s disability and aging department.