Tennessee · House Bill 855 · 113th General Assembly

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 36 and Title 37, relative to children.

HB 855 Sponsored by Tom Leatherwood Became law

  1. Introduced Jan 30, 2023
  2. In committee Feb 2, 2023
  3. Passed the House Mar 20, 2023
  4. Passed the Senate Apr 17, 2023
  5. To the governor Apr 28, 2023
  6. Became law May 5, 2023

What it does

The legislature's own summary of the bill, or its official long title.

Adoption - As enacted, changes the time period during which the Tennessee putative father registry must have been consulted prior to the filing of a petition to terminate parental rights from 10 days to 10 working days; requires the appointment of a guardian ad litem in an adoption involving a mentally disabled child when the child is 14 years of age or older at any time before the granting of the petition rather than at any age. - Amends TCA Title 36 and Title 37.

Every action

23 steps, oldest first, as the legislature records them.

Show the 15 earlier steps
  1. HouseFiled for introduction
  2. HouseIntro., P1C.
  3. CommitteeP2C, ref. to Civil Justice Committee · House Civil Justice Committee
  4. CommitteeAssigned to s/c Children & Family Affairs Subcommittee · House Children & Family Affairs Subcommittee
  5. CommitteePlaced on s/c cal Children & Family Affairs Subcommittee for 3/7/2023 · House Children & Family Affairs Subcommittee
  6. CommitteeRec. for pass by s/c ref. to Civil Justice Committee · House Civil Justice Committee
  7. CommitteePlaced on cal. Civil Justice Committee for 3/15/2023 · House Civil Justice Committee
  8. CommitteeRec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee · House Calendar & Rules Committee
  9. CommitteePlaced on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 3/16/2023 · House Calendar & Rules Committee
  10. HouseH. Placed on Regular Calendar for 3/20/2023
  11. HouseSponsor(s) Added.
  12. HousePassed H., Ayes 97, Nays 0, PNV 0
  13. HouseEngrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.
  14. SenateReceived from House, Passed on First Consideration
  15. SenateSenate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.
  1. SenatePassed Senate, Ayes 27, Nays 3, PNV 1
  2. HouseEnrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.
  3. HouseSigned by H. Speaker
  4. SenateSigned by Senate Speaker
  5. HouseTransmitted to Governor for his action.
  6. GovernorSigned by Governor.
  7. Secretary of StatePub. Ch. 363
  8. GovernorEffective date(s) 05/05/2023

Roll calls

2 recorded votes: 2 on the floor, 0 in committee. Each shows how every member voted.

REGULAR CALENDAR PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION · Full House

Passed 97–0
Mar 20, 2023 · journal entry
Yes 97 No 0
Party not listed: 1 yes, 0 no Democrats: 23 yes, 0 no Republicans: 73 yes, 0 no
How each member voted

Yes · 97

Third Consideration · Full Senate

Passed 27–3
Apr 17, 2023 · journal entry
Yes 27 No 3 Not voting 1
Democrats: 0 yes, 3 no Republicans: 27 yes, 0 no
How each member voted

Yes · 27

No · 3

Not voting · 1

Sponsors

The member who introduced it, joined by 3 cosponsors: 3 Republicans.

All 3 cosponsors

From Tennessee's official records (wapp.capitol.tn.gov), checked Nov 1, 2026. Text links go to the official versions; LegiList does not copy bill text.