Monitor Legislation that Impacts Your Nonprofit and the Children and Families You Serve
Nonprofits must be legislative watchdogs for three key reasons:
Impact awareness: New laws affect funding, operations, and beneficiary eligibility. Staying informed prevents blindsided disruptions.
Advocacy opportunity: Proactive engagement shapes legislation to better serve communities. Nonprofits bring unique perspectives to lawmakers.
Public trust: Monitoring shows commitment to responsible use of resources and best serving beneficiaries. Transparency builds trust and attracts donors.
In short, informed nonprofits can adapt, advocate, and build trust, all crucial for lasting positive impact.
Below are bills we are monitoring in the State of Tennessee. Please note that Tennessee Nonprofit Network monitors all bills that impact nonprofits and the communities they serve, but we only take positions on issues impacting the entire nonprofit sector and align with our public policy agenda.
Want to take action on a bill below? Find your legislators here.
Did we miss any important bills? Let us know here.
Sector: Childcare
Bill: SB2753 / HB2605
Bill Summary: As introduced, exempts a child care agency from the registration requirements for charitable organizations.
Impact: Reduces administrative burden on childcare agencies, but may raise concerns around transparency and maintaining standards across the sector
Position: TBD
Sector: Childcare
Bill: SB1028 / HB1502
Bill Summary: Employee Child Care Assistance Partnership Act - This bill establishes a public and private partnership pilot program under the department of labor and workforce development. In order to administer the program, this bill authorizes the department to delegate authority to a subsidiary department; coordinate and share information with other executive branch agencies; and enter into contracts with third parties to administer the program or specific parts of the program.
Impact: Increases opportunity for nonprofit childcare providers to collaborate with the government, potentially leading to increased funding opportunities, technical assistance, and access to resources.
Position: Monitor
Sector: Childcare
Bill: SB1053 / HB1336
Bill Summary: As introduced, enacts the "Workers Need Child Care Act"; establishes the child care infrastructure fund from which the department of economic and community development disperses grants to nonprofit entities for establishing new licensed child care agencies in this state.
Impact: Increases funding for nonprofits
Position: Monitor
Sector: Childcare
Bill: SB2374 / HB2374
Bill Summary: As introduced, requires TACIR to complete a study and issue a report on laws, regulations, and rules affecting the start-up, operation, and expansion of child care businesses in this state.
Impact: Increases awareness on the challenges and opportunities around child care regulations; potentially leading to further discussion and potential reforms
Position: Monitor
Sector: Childcare
Bill: SB2672 / HB2156
Bill Summary: As introduced, increases, from 45 to 60, the number of days a child care person or entity may receive an extension on a temporary certificate from the state board of education to operate a child care program prior to the issuance of an initial annual certificate of approval.
Impact: Allows more time for nonprofits to complete licensing requirements, potentially preventing program closures due to unexpected challenges or other delays. Potential concerns that extended temporary conditions may have quality concerns.
Position: Monitor
Sector: Childcare
Bill: SB2673 / HB2154
Bill Summary: As introduced, increases, from 45 to 60, the number of days a child care person or entity may receive an extension on a temporary certificate from the state board of education to operate a child care program prior to the issuance of an initial annual certificate of approval.
Impact: Quicker determination by the Dept. of Education could lead to faster licensing and operation of childcare programs - potentially benefiting communities with unmet needs. Potential concerns on increased burden on nonprofits to address identified needs in a compressed timeframe and less time for review could limit opportunities for dialogue and clarification between the department and nonprofits
Position: Monitor
Sector: Childcare
Bill: HB2923
Bill Summary: As introduced, requires public charter schools to provide licensed employees of the public charter school six paid workweeks after a birth or stillbirth of the employee's child or the employee's adoption of a newly placed minor child.
Impact: TBD
Position: Monitor
Sector: Children & Families
Bill: SB0530 / HB0792
Bill Summary: This bill establishes the First Lady's children's trust fund to provide support to nonprofit organizations and agencies of local governments seeking funds to assist in the care of children in this state. The fund is an irrevocable trust that the state treasurer must administer. This bill authorizes the trustees to have the powers necessary or convenient to carry out these provisions and the purposes and objectives of the trust.
Impact: Increases funding for child welfare programs (including nonprofits), providing additional resources that could expand programs, improve services, and produce better outcomes for children. Creates a long-term source of funding for services, potentially reducing reliance or supplementing year-to-year budget allocations
Position: Monitor
Sector: Children & Families
Bill: SB0750 / HB0785
Bill Summary: This bill requires the department of education to create and, by July 1, 2024, implement the promising futures program to provide scholarships to assist parents and legal guardians of children who are not school age to develop early language and literacy skills in high-quality early care and learning programs.
Impact: Develops a funding stream for nonprofits engaged in early childhood programming and increases access to services. Concerns on the limited eligibility for families to access services.
Position: Monitor
Sector: Children & Families / Education
Bill: SB0809 / HB1034
Bill Summary: The Voluntary Pre-K for Tennessee Act of 2005 authorizes LEAs to apply to the department of education for funding and approval of one or more pre-kindergarten (pre-K) programs. Present law requires the department to give a preference to applications that target establishing programs for at-risk children not served by an existing pre-K program. Enrollment in a pre-K program is voluntary. This bill changes present law by removing the application process and requiring each LEA to provide a pre-K program that provides the number of classrooms necessary to serve all eligible children. Enrollment in a pre-K program remains voluntary.
Impact: Potential concerns on increased costs without adequate funding for LEAs to accommodate larger number of students and logistical challenges related to physical space and hiring a qualified workforce
Position: Monitor
Sector: Public Safety
Bill: SB2912 / HB2032
Bill Summary: As introduced, removes the offense of possessing a weapon in a building that prohibits or restricts weapons; allows a person with an enhanced handgun carry permit to carry a handgun into a business that prohibits or restricts weapons; removes penalties for violations of certain firearms provisions.
Impact: Raises safety concerns for nonprofits providing services related to children & youth, domestic violence, violence intervention, and mental health, etc.
Position: Opposed