TN SB0485

Establishes state-level Indian Child Welfare Act provisions in Tennessee, granting Indian tribes exclusive jurisdiction over child custody proceedings involving Indian children residing on reservations and allowing transfer of off-reservation cases to tribal courts

Requires placement preferences for Indian children in foster care and adoption: first to extended family members, then to other tribal members, then to other Indian families, with placements reflecting tribal social and cultural standards

Mandates notification by registered mail to parents, Indian custodians, and tribes of pending foster care or parental rights termination proceedings, with at least 10 days notice before hearings and up to 20 additional days for preparation upon request

Requires clear and convincing evidence including qualified expert witness testimony for foster care placements, and evidence beyond a reasonable doubt for termination of parental rights, showing continued parental custody would cause serious harm to the child

Takes effect July 1, 2025, and authorizes the Commissioner of Children's Services to promulgate rules and maintain records of Indian child placements for tribal enrollment purposes