Tennessee House of Representatives bill in Session 114.
Status: enacted. Latest action: May 27, 2026.
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 37; Title 49; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71, relative to blood lead level testing.
PRE-K – 12 STUDENTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS This bill requires the department of health to make available and require blood lead level testing for all children prior to attendance at public schools that service any combination of pre-K-12 students. A child so tested who has elevated blood lead le vels must be immediately screened to determine if educational services pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act may be required. A child so tested who has lead poisoning must receive mandated wraparound services appropriate for lead po is oned children. However, these provisions do not apply to a child whose parent or guardian opts out of such testing or referrals. JUVENILES IN JUVENILE DETENTION CENTERS If a juvenile detention facility that receives federal funding is aware that a juvenile in custody of such detention facility has elevated blood lead levels or lead poisoning, then this bill requires the detention facility, in collaboration with the depa rtment of health and local education agencies, to provide wraparound services appropriate for children with elevated blood lead levels or lead poisoning for such juvenile. PREGNANT WOMEN IN SPECIAL SUPPLMENTAL FOOD PROGRAM This bill requires the department of health to make available and require blood lead level testing for a pregnant woman who receives vouchers for the special supplemental food program for women, infants, and children administered by the department. If a woman is so tested and it is determined that she has elevated blood lead levels or lead poisoning, then the department must provide the woman specialized nutritional services, education on how to mitigate lead in the body, and other mandated wraparound s er vices tailored for people with elevated blood lead levels or lead poisoning. ON MARCH 26, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #2 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 1255, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #2 rewrites the bill to, instead, require t he department of health to make available and require educational materials on blood lead level testing for a pregnant woman who receives vouchers for the special supplemental food program for women, infants, and children. The department of health must also provide the woman educational information on specialized nutritional services, education on how to mitigate lead in the body, and other existing wraparound services tailored for people with elevated blood lead levels or lead poisoning.
| Date | Event | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-02-06 | Introduced | Bill introduced |
| 2026-05-22 | Status | enacted |
| 2026-05-27 | Latest Action | Effective date(s) 05/22/2026 |