Tennessee House Bill HB2350

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/2/26
• Refer: 2/5/26
• Refer: 3/10/26
• Refer: 3/25/26
• Chaptered: 5/5/26
• Passed: 5/5/26

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 36-1-113 and Section 37-2-415, relative to foster parents.

Summary

HB2350 amends Tennessee law governing foster parents’ access to information in child welfare and termination-of-parental-rights proceedings. The bill requires the Department of Children’s Services, when a child is in the department’s legal custody or guardianship and has been placed with a foster parent for at least nine consecutive months, to provide that foster parent a copy of any petition to terminate parental rights. If the department files the petition, the copy must be provided within seven days of filing; if another party files it, the copy must be provided within seven days after service on the department. The bill also expands and clarifies the department’s duty to share information with foster parents. It requires timely disclosure of information about the child and the child’s family background and health history, along with additional ongoing information relevant to the child’s care. The bill states that confidential information received by foster parents, including a termination-of-parental-rights petition, must remain confidential except as needed to protect the child’s health and welfare.

Impact

This bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated §§ 36-1-113 and 37-2-415 to create a specific notice requirement for foster parents in termination-of-parental-rights cases and to strengthen the Department of Children’s Services’ information-sharing obligations. It affects the department, foster parents, and children in state custody or guardianship, particularly those in long-term foster placements of nine months or more. The measure also reinforces confidentiality rules for sensitive child welfare records while allowing disclosure when necessary for the child’s care and safety.

Sentiment

The available voting history suggests the bill was generally well received and moved forward with strong support. It was recommended for passage in the House Children and Family Affairs Subcommittee by a 6-0 vote and then in the House Judiciary Committee by a 15-1 vote, indicating broad bipartisan agreement on the need for greater communication with foster parents. No committee transcript was provided, so there is no recorded debate language to indicate substantial opposition beyond the single dissenting vote in Judiciary.

Contention

The main policy issue is balancing foster parents’ access to information against confidentiality in child welfare proceedings. Supporters appear to favor giving foster parents timely notice and more complete background and health information so they can better care for the child and respond to legal proceedings. Potential concerns likely center on privacy, the handling of sensitive family information, and whether broader notice to foster parents could affect the interests of biological parents or the department’s discretion in confidential cases. The lone no vote in Judiciary suggests at least some concern, but the record provided does not identify the specific objection.