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HB 2283

Children's Services, Dept. of - As enacted, prohibits the department from requiring a relative caregiver, including relatives in the kinship foster care program, to provide a child with the child's own bedroom in determining whether to place the child in the custody of the relative caregiver. - Amends TCA Title 37.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Michele Carringer

Tennessee removes private bedroom requirement for relative kinship caregivers in child custody placement decisions to expand family-based foster care options.

Comp. SB subst.
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Bill Summary · HB 2283

Legislative bill overview

HB 2283 removes the requirement that the Tennessee Department of Children's Services mandate a relative caregiver (including kinship foster care providers) to provide a child with their own private bedroom as a condition for child placement. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 37, which governs child welfare and custody determinations.

Why is this important

This change directly affects kinship care placement decisions—situations where children enter state custody and are placed with relatives rather than strangers. Removing the bedroom requirement could enable more children to remain with family members, potentially reducing foster care system strain and keeping children within their existing family networks, though it may also lower housing standards for children in relative care arrangements.

Potential points of contention

  • Child welfare standards: Opponents may argue that private bedrooms are essential for child development, privacy, and protection, while supporters contend the requirement unnecessarily excludes capable relatives from providing care
  • Equity concerns: The policy could disproportionately affect low-income families and relatives who cannot afford separate bedrooms, either enabling access for struggling families or creating lower care standards depending on perspective
  • Implementation ambiguity: The bill doesn't specify what alternative sleeping arrangements would be acceptable, leaving discretion to caseworkers and potentially creating inconsistent application across the state

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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