TennesseeTennessee law allows dementia caregiver grants if state funding is approved
Eligible caregivers of relatives with dementia living at home can receive grants of up to $6,000 per fiscal year, but payments require separate state budget funding.
What it does
Eligible family caregivers can receive up to $6,000 per fiscal year for dementia care expenses. Payments depend on separate state budget funding and available money.
Grants cover relatives with dementia who need help with at least two daily tasks and live at home. Income limits apply in 2027, and the poorest households get first priority.
The law calls for a one-time $200,000 for grants but does not provide that money. Unused grant money stays in the fund, and lawmakers receive a program report.
Argument forIf funded, grants could help families afford home changes, care equipment, and temporary replacement care while supporting relatives at home.
Argument againstLimited funding could leave eligible caregivers without help, even when they have already paid for necessary care expenses.
More detail
The state agency running the pilot provides grants of up to $6,000 per caregiver per fiscal year, when funding is available. The pilot serves eligible family caregivers across all three major regions of Tennessee. Payments require money specifically approved in the general state budget and depend on available funds. Covered expenses must directly support care and must not have been paid back. They include necessary home changes, care equipment, temporary replacement care, and medical supplies. Routine home maintenance is excluded. The pilot runs from July 1, 2026, through December 31, 2027.
Caregivers must meet care requirements, and income limits apply for calendar year 2027. The person receiving care must be a relative by blood or marriage, need help with at least two daily tasks, and live in a private home rather than a residential care facility. The relative must have a dementia diagnosis or related symptoms or thinking problems acknowledged in writing by their primary care doctor. Temporary stays in a hospital or skilled or intermediate care facility do not end eligibility if the relative intends to return home after recovering enough. For 2027, adjusted income cannot exceed the area or state median income—the middle income level—whichever is higher, adjusted for family size. The calculation includes the caregiver's income and a spouse's income, if applicable, and subtracts half of eligible yearly expenses. The income limit receives a Social Security cost-of-living adjustment on July 1, 2027, rounded to the nearest $10. Very low income households receive first priority for grants, followed by low income households.
The law provides a separate caregiver grant fund and requires a report on the pilot's work and finances. The agency running the pilot reports to the legislative committees responsible for health matters. The fund can receive state budget money, gifts, grants, and donations. The law itself sets aside no money, and spending requires specific approval in the general state budget. Lawmakers state their intent to provide a one-time $200,000 for grants in fiscal year 2026–2027; this does not guarantee funding. The state treasurer invests the money. Investment earnings stay in the fund, and unused money carries forward until spent. The agency must report on the program, money received, and payments made by January 15, 2028. The law took effect July 1, 2026, with rulemaking allowed upon enactment.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 18Pub. Ch. 940Latest
- May 18Effective date(s) 05/07/2026, 07/01/2026
- May 7Signed by Governor Bill Lee.Became Law
- May 6Transmitted to Governor for his action.To Governor
- May 5Signed by Senate SpeakerMajor
- Apr 30Signed by H. SpeakerMajor
- Apr 28Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.Minor
- Apr 22Received from House, Passed on First ConsiderationMinor
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: Third Consideration 4/22/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 22Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.Major
- Apr 22Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - SA0725)
- Apr 22Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 2 - SA1083)
- Apr 22Passed Senate, Ayes 30, Nays 0Passed Senate
- Apr 21H. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA0567)Major
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/21/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 21H. adopted am. (Amendment 2 - HA1194)Major
- Apr 21Passed H., as am., Ayes 92, Nays 3, PNV 0Passed House
- Apr 21Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Apr 21Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.Minor
- Apr 20
- Vote recorded HOUSE CALENDAR & RULES COMMITTEE: H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/20/2026 4/16/2026. Result: fail.Lower
- Apr 16H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/20/2026
- Apr 15Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/15/2026
- Vote recorded HOUSE FINANCE, WAYS, AND MEANS SUBCOMMITTEE: Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee 4/15/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded HOUSE FINANCE, WAYS, AND MEANS COMMITTEE: Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee 4/15/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 15Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means CommitteeMinor
- Apr 15Placed on cal. Finance, Ways, and Means Committee for 4/15/2026
- Apr 15Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules CommitteeMinor
- Apr 15Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/16/2026
- Apr 8Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2026
- Mar 24Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Mar 18Placed behind the budget
- Mar 11Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 3/18/2026
- Mar 11Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Mar 9Rec. for pass; ref to Finance, Ways, and Means CommitteeMinor
- Vote recorded HOUSE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS COMMITTEE: Rec. for pass; ref to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee 3/9/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 9Assigned to s/c Finance, Ways, and Means SubcommitteeMinor
- Mar 4Placed on cal. Government Operations Committee for 3/9/2026
- Mar 2Action def. in Government Operations Committee to 3/9/2026
- Mar 2Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Feb 25Placed on cal. Government Operations Committee for 3/2/2026
- Feb 19Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Feb 17Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Vote recorded HOUSE HEALTH COMMITTEE: Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Government Operations Committee 2/17/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 17Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Government Operations CommitteeMinor
- Feb 12Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Feb 11Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Health CommitteeMinor
- Vote recorded HOUSE HEALTH SUBCOMMITTEE: Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Health Committee 2/11/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 11Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Feb 11Placed on cal. Health Committee for 2/17/2026
- Feb 10Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Feb 5Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Feb 4Placed on s/c cal Health Subcommittee for 2/11/2026
- Feb 3Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Jan 14P2C, ref. to Health Committee - Government Operations for ReviewMinor
- Jan 14Assigned to s/c Health SubcommitteeMinor
- Jan 13Intro., P1C.Minor
- 2025
- Aug 26Filed for introductionIntroduced
Healthcare