AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 9; Title 67, Chapter 4 and Title 71, relative to financial assistance.
SB1355 creates a new Tennessee program called the “Guaranteed Basic Income Act” or “Protection Against Automation Act.” It directs the Department of Human Services to establish and administer a guaranteed basic income grant program beginning in 2026 for eligible residents. To qualify, a person must be at least 18 years old, hold a valid Tennessee driver license or photo ID, and be a full-time Tennessee resident who also lived in the state full-time during the prior year.
The bill sets the grant amount at $3,000 per year for each eligible applicant who submits a completed application and any required supporting documents. The department would be responsible for publishing application guidelines, creating forms, and adopting rules under the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act. Grants could be paid monthly or semi-monthly, and recipients would need to reapply each year to continue receiving benefits.
To finance the program, the bill establishes a separate guaranteed basic income fund within the general fund. The fund would consist of legislative appropriations, gifts, grants, donations, and potentially deposits from taxes levied under Title 67, Chapter 4 if the General Assembly chooses to direct such revenue there. Investment earnings would remain in the fund, and unused balances would carry forward rather than revert at the end of the fiscal year.
The bill’s impact would be to create a new state-administered cash assistance entitlement-like program for adult Tennessee residents, expanding the role of the Department of Human Services and potentially affecting state budgeting and tax allocation decisions. It would also amend state law governing financial assistance by adding a new statutory part in Title 71 and referencing Title 4, Title 9, and Title 67 funding mechanisms.
There is no recorded committee discussion or vote history in the provided materials, so no formal sentiment can be drawn from legislative debate. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears policy-driven and expansive, but it would likely raise questions about cost, funding sources, administrative implementation, and whether tax revenues should be dedicated to recurring direct payments. Those issues would be the most likely points of contention if the bill were considered in committee or on the floor.
SB1355 would add a new part to Tennessee Code Annotated Title 71 establishing a state guaranteed basic income program administered by the Department of Human Services. It would create eligibility rules, application procedures, annual grant payments of $3,000, and a dedicated fund that can receive appropriations, donations, and possibly certain tax revenues, with balances carried forward instead of reverting to the general fund. The bill would therefore affect state financial assistance law, DHS administrative authority, and state fiscal planning.
No committee transcripts or votes were provided, so there is no documented legislative sentiment to summarize. From the bill text, the proposal appears affirmative and programmatic in purpose, aiming to provide direct cash assistance to adult Tennessee residents and frame the policy as both basic income and automation protection. The absence of recorded debate means support or opposition cannot be attributed to specific lawmakers or committees in the supplied materials.
The main likely points of contention are the cost of providing $3,000 annually to all eligible residents, the source of funding, and whether tax revenues should be earmarked for the program. Additional concerns could include administrative burden on the Department of Human Services, the annual reapplication requirement, and the policy question of whether Tennessee should adopt a guaranteed basic income model at all. Because no discussion or vote record is included, no specific opponents or supporters can be identified from the provided context.