Senate committee hears SB1921 on using TANF to clear Smart Steps waitlist; panel rolls bill for two weeks
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Summary
Sponsor and stakeholders described Senate Bill 1921 as a proposal to use unobligated TANF funds to clear a 9,000+ Smart Steps child-care waitlist. Business groups and an early-education provider testified about workforce and family impacts; the committee rolled the bill for two weeks to work on technical and federal issues.
Senate Bill 1921, sponsored by Senator Massie, was introduced to address child-care access in Tennessee by allowing use of unobligated Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds to reduce the Smart Steps waitlist. Sponsor remarks framed child care as "economic infrastructure." Blair Taylor, CEO of Tennesseans for Quality Early Education, told the committee there are now more than 9,000 children on the Smart Steps waitlist and said 44 other states use TANF to fund child care.
Rebecca Woods and local early-education provider Aubin Leibarger testified about family disruptions and providers’ enrollment instability caused by the waitlist. Woods said she circulated a letter signed by more than 20 chambers of commerce supporting the bill. Witnesses urged technical coordination with the Department of Human Services to avoid state fiscal notes and to ensure federal guidance allows the proposed uses of TANF.
Committee members expressed support but emphasized the need to resolve technical and federal-reporting questions; members rolled the bill for two weeks to allow staff to work on amendments with DHS.
No final vote was taken on the bill at the hearing.
