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HB 936

Day Care - As introduced, treats nieces and nephews of the whole or half-blood of a primary caregiver as being related to the caregiver for purposes of present laws governing child care agencies. - Amends TCA Title 71, Chapter 3, Part 5.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Ronnie Glynn

Expands Tennessee child care exemptions to allow primary caregivers to provide unlicensed care to nieces and nephews without triggering agency licensing requirements.

P2C, caption bill, held on desk - pending amdt.
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 936

Legislative bill overview

HB 936 modifies Tennessee's child care licensing laws to recognize nieces and nephews (both full and half-blood relations) as "related" family members for purposes of child care regulation. This would allow primary caregivers to provide child care to nieces and nephews under family child care exemptions rather than requiring full child care agency licensing.

Why is this important

Child care licensing requirements typically impose significant compliance costs, training requirements, and regulatory oversight. By expanding the definition of "related" to include nieces and nephews, the bill would allow more informal family-based care arrangements without triggering expensive licensing obligations, potentially increasing affordable child care access while reducing regulatory burden on family caregivers.

Potential points of contention

  • Child safety standards: Critics may argue that licensing requirements exist to protect children's welfare, and exempting more family arrangements could reduce oversight of care quality and safety protocols
  • Scope of "family" definition: Questions about where to draw the line—if nieces/nephews qualify, why not cousins or godchildren?—and whether the expansion is too broad or appropriately tailored
  • Equity concerns: The change may primarily benefit middle and upper-income families with extended family networks available to provide care, while lower-income families relying on licensed facilities see no benefit

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

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