Tennessee House Bill HB0717

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/3/25
• Refer: 2/6/25
• Refer: 3/5/25
• Refer: 3/18/25
• Refer: 3/24/25
• Refer: 4/17/25
• Engrossed: 4/21/25
• Enrolled: 4/28/25
• Passed: 5/21/25
• Chaptered: 5/27/25

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 9; Title 33; Title 52; Title 67 and Title 68, relative to relief for caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease or related dementia.

Summary

HB0717 is a narrow Tennessee bill related to relief for caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia. The bill’s text does not create a new program or change benefit amounts; instead, it amends Tennessee Code Annotated Section 52-8-203(b)(4)(B) to extend an existing date from December 31, 2025 to December 31, 2026. The caption and findings indicate the legislation is intended to support caregivers who incur significant out-of-pocket and wage-loss costs while caring for family members with dementia. In practical terms, the bill extends the life of a caregiver relief provision already in state law, preserving eligibility or availability for one additional year. Because it amends Title 52, it affects the statutory framework governing caregiver relief and related services, and it may indirectly affect caregivers, families of individuals with Alzheimer’s or related dementia, and any state-administered program operating under that section. The bill takes effect immediately upon becoming law. The overall sentiment around the bill was strongly favorable and noncontroversial. It moved through the House Health Subcommittee, House Health Committee, House Government Operations Committee, and House Finance, Ways, and Means Committee with unanimous or near-unanimous support, and it passed the House floor overwhelmingly. The Senate also passed it without recorded opposition. The voting history suggests broad bipartisan agreement that caregiver support for dementia-related needs is worthwhile. There is little evidence of substantive contention in the available record. The only discernible issue is the limited scope of the bill: it is a short extension of an existing deadline rather than a broader expansion of caregiver assistance. No committee transcript is available, and no recorded dissent appears in the votes, so any debate likely centered on routine program continuation and fiscal or administrative timing rather than policy disagreement.

Impact

The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Section 52-8-203(b)(4)(B) in Title 52 by replacing the sunset date of December 31, 2025 with December 31, 2026. This extends an existing caregiver relief provision for one additional year, preserving the statutory basis for relief related to caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia. It does not appear to alter eligibility criteria, benefit levels, or create a new program, but it does keep the current framework in force for an additional year.

Sentiment

The bill was received very positively throughout the legislative process. It advanced unanimously through subcommittee and committee votes and passed both chambers without recorded opposition. The broad support suggests lawmakers viewed the measure as a modest, compassionate extension of an existing caregiver relief policy with limited controversy.

Contention

There is no notable recorded opposition in the available materials. The bill’s only apparent policy issue is that it extends an existing deadline rather than expanding the program, so any discussion likely concerned whether to continue the current caregiver relief provision for another year and whether the extension had any fiscal or administrative implications. No committee transcript is available to show deeper disagreement.