Each year upon the convening of the Tennessee General Assembly, TQEE reviews the Governor’s budget and 1000+ bills filed by legislators. We determine which items are both aligned to our policy blueprint and can have a meaningful impact. Then we add those alongside the bills we’re already championing and lean in with advocacy. Check out our list below and join us over the next couple of months to help get these enacted!
First: The 2026-27 Budget
Governor Bill Lee presented his annual budget on Monday, February 2. Highlights included a number of items we’re applauding, and we’re still digging through it to find other jewels aligned with our policy blueprint..
Early Care and Learning
- $339 million to strengthen education in Tennessee’s public schools, including further investment in the Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) formula funding, summer learning camps, and raising starting teacher pay to $50,000
Child and Family Health and Mental Health
- $3 million to expand the school-based behavioral health liaison program, giving students across Tennessee schools important resources and mental health support
- $205 million to strengthen healthcare initiatives, including funding Rural Health Transformation Resiliency Grants
- $230 million to TennCare to cover increasing costs associated with medical inflation, including higher prescription drug prices and Medicare payments, and increased utilization and services
- $24.2 million to continue a Department of Health Dental Pilot Program to address unmet dental service needs and increase the number of dentists in Tennessee
Bills Filed by Legislators: Our “Hotlist“
Now to legislation. The deadline for bill filing for the Tennessee General Assembly was Thursday, February 3rd. After reviewing over 1000 bills across our core three domains, we have identified the following high-priority bills that we will support this session. Additionally, there are a number of caption (placeholder) bills on our radar that might be amended to be of interest – so the list below could grow.
Early Learning Settings Birth-to-3rd Grade
Expanding access to affordable, quality child care and early learning programs
SB 1921 / HB 2358 (Massey / Hawk) Directs the Department of Human Services to use TANF rainy day funds to restore access to the Smart Steps child care assistance program.
- Update 3/6- Advanced from House Health Subcommittee on 3/4 sent to House Health Full committee for 3/10 and On calendar for Senate Health on 3/11
SB 2062 / HB 1979 (Watson / White) Creates a dedicated Promising Futures Fund using state revenues from hemp- and vapor-derived products to address child care affordability and supply, and workforce shortages. Funds support three targeted initiatives: free child care for child care workers, employer-supported CareShare Tennessee, and Smart Steps Plus for middle-income families.
- Update 3/6- On calendar in House Health Subcommittee and Senate Health Committee for 3/11
SB2426 / HB2048 (Crowe / McCalmon) As amended, Expands Voluntary Pre-K eligibility to include children of LEA employees.
- Update 3/6- Advanced from House K-12 Subcommittee on 3/3 and on calendar for House Education Committee for 3/10. On calendar for Senate Education for 3/11
Developing the early educator workforce
SB 2404 / HB 2426 (White / White) Early Educator Workforce Development Act (Caption Bill, pending amendment) Creates a temporary task force to inventory and strengthen alignment of workforce development resources and to identify gaps. Expands apprenticeship pathways by allowing child care and preschool settings as approved clinical practice sites for educator prep programs operating within a registered apprenticeship program.
- Updated 3/6- Advanced from House Education Administration Subcommittee on 3/3 and on calendar in House Education Committee on 3/10. Passed out of Senate Education committee on 3/4.
SB 2525 (HB 2398) Hatcher / Stinnett – Allows high school students ages 16–18 to work in child care centers through approved work programs.
- Update 3/6- Passed out of Senate Education Committee on 3/4. On calendar in House Health Subcommittee for 3/11.
Removing Regulatory Barriers
SB1683 / HB1965 (Haile / Farmer) Establishes a narrow civil liability safe harbor for employers and community organizations that host licensed child care providers without operating them. Preserves all safety and licensing standards while unlocking underused space to expand child care capacity quickly and responsibly.
- Update 3/6- Senate Passed on 2/9. Advanced from House Civil Justice Subcommittee to House Judiciary Committee for next available calendar
(SB 2282) HB 2306 Briggs / Carringer – Prohibits HOA bans on family or group child care homes
- Update 3/6- On calendar in Cities and Counties Subcommittee for 3/11 and in Senate State and Local Government Committee for 3/10.
SB 2509 (HB 2413) Oliver / Love – Creates the Tennessee Child Care Red Tape Reduction Act to expedite child care permit approvals, eliminate redundant fire safety inspections and streamline rules.
- Updated 3/6- Action delayed in Senate Health, on calendar for 3/18. On calendar in House Health Subcommittee for 3/11.
Rightsizing TISA Formula Funding
SB 2385 (HB 2485) Hensley / Haston – Updates the definition of “economically disadvantaged” used in the TISA funding formula and the state’s ESSA plan and requires the department of education to offset funding losses for affected school districts.
- Updated on 3/6- On calendar for K-12 Subcommittee for 3/10. Advanced out of Senate Education Committee on 3/4 and sent to Senate Finance Ways and Means Committee.
Health and Development on Track From Birth
SB 44 (HB 295) Lamar / Love – Adds certified doula services as a covered benefit under TennCare and directs the Department of Health to establish certification verification standards.
- Updated 3/6- Amended in House Insurance Subcommittee and advanced to House Health Committee.
SB 1605 (HB 2083) Haile / Littleton – Extends Zero to Three “Safe Baby” Courts to children up to age five, prioritizing those under three.
- Update 3/6- Senate Passed on 2/9. Advanced from House Judiciary Committee on 3 /4 and on House Consent Calendar for 3/9.
Supported Families
Paid Family Leave
SB 938 (HB 957) Rose / Slater -Grants eligible state employees mandatory paid leave for fostering a minor child.
- Updated 3/6- House Passed on 2/23 and on Senate Floor Calendar for 3/9.
Free and Reduced-Price School Lunch
SB 740 (HB 1153) Harshbarger / Lynn – Requires school districts to provide free breakfast and lunch to all students, with the state reimbursing districts for costs not covered by federal funds.
- Updated 3/6-Advanced from House and Senate Education committees in 2025 and is waiting behind the budget for funding
SNAP and Summer EBT
Bill number pending – A new state rule would establish SNAP Broad Based Categorical Eligibility, with eligibility for SNAP benefits extended to families with gross monthly income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level and a net monthly income at or below 100% of the federalpoverty level.
SB 1911 / BTHB 1835 Bailey / Hale – Directs TDHS to participate in the federal Summer EBT program to provide summer nutrition benefits to eligible children using available federal funds.
- Update 3/6- Advanced from Senate Health and Welfare on 2/25 and sent to Senate Finance Ways and Means Committee. Advanced from House Health Subcommittee on 3 /4 and on calendar for House Health Committee for 3/10.
SB 1853 / HB 1806 Yarbro / Shaw – Directs TDHS to apply for federal Summer EBT funding by January 1, 2027, to support summer nutrition for eligible children.
- Update 3/6- Advanced from House Health Subcommittee on 3 /4 and on calendar for House Health Committee on 3/10. On calendar in Senate Health for 3/11.
Food Tax Exemption
SB 1829 / HB 1767 Yarbro / Clemmons – Exempts food purchases from sales and use tax for income-eligible families with qualified dependents.
- Updated 3/6- On calendar for House Finance Ways and Means Subcommittee for 3/11.
SB 1837 / HB 1792 Hensley / Fritts – Exempts WIC-eligible food and food ingredients from state sales and use tax.
- Update 3/6- Placed behind the Budget in House Finance Committee
What can you do now? Take Action!
Head over to our Take Action page where you can find your legislators and choose from a bunch of options to be a Loud Voice for Little Kids on these bills.
