Tennessee Senate Bill SB1666

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/14/26
• Chaptered: 4/24/26
• Passed: 4/24/26

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 71, Chapter 3, relative to child care agencies.

Summary

SB1666 amends Tennessee’s child care licensing law to create a specific exemption for certain family child care homes that serve military-connected families. Under the bill, a person or entity operating a family child care home that has obtained a U.S. Department of Defense certificate under 32 CFR 79.6 is not subject to Tennessee licensure and does not need a separate licensing exemption, so long as the home provides child care services only to an “eligible patron” as defined in federal military child care regulations. The practical effect is to align state law with the federal Department of Defense certification process for military family child care providers. This would allow qualifying providers to operate lawfully in Tennessee without going through the state child care agency licensing system, but only within the narrow category of providers serving eligible military patrons. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

Impact

The bill narrows the reach of Tennessee’s child care licensing requirements in Title 71, Chapter 3 by adding a new statutory carve-out for federally certified family child care homes serving eligible Department of Defense patrons. It affects child care providers, military families, and the state agency responsible for licensing child care operations, while leaving the general licensing framework intact for providers outside this category.

Sentiment

The available legislative history suggests the bill was received favorably. The Senate Health and Welfare Committee recommended passage by a 9-0 vote, indicating broad support and little visible opposition in committee. No committee transcript was provided, but the vote history points to a consensus view that the measure is a targeted administrative alignment with federal military child care rules.

Contention

There is little evidence of major controversy in the materials provided. Any potential point of discussion would likely center on whether a federal DoD certificate should substitute for state licensure and whether the exemption should be limited strictly to providers serving only eligible patrons. Because the exemption is narrow and tied to federal definitions, the bill appears designed to avoid broader concerns about child care oversight while accommodating military families and providers.