Therapist Terminology Updates - Marital to Marriage

Tennessee Legislative Events

Published April 2nd, 2026

Detected April 7th, 2026

Summary

The Tennessee General Assembly enacted SB2585, amending Tennessee Code Annotated Titles 4, 8, 33, 36, 52, 56, 63, and 68 to change references from 'marital and family therapists' to 'marriage and family therapists' throughout state law. The bill was signed by Governor on April 2, 2026, with Senate Speaker signature on April 6, 2026. The legislation passed with strong bipartisan support (Senate 32-0, House 94-1).

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What changed

Senate Bill 2585 makes technical terminology corrections throughout the Tennessee Code Annotated, replacing 'marital and family therapists' with 'marriage and family therapists' across eight titles of state law. The bill was sponsored by Senators Edward Jackson, Paul Bailey, and Janince Bowling and passed through the 114th General Assembly with unanimous committee support.

Healthcare providers, licensing boards, and state agencies should review their forms, licenses, and official documents to ensure consistent use of the updated terminology 'marriage and family therapists.' While this is a minor terminology change with no new obligations or penalties, entities should update any materials they control to reflect the correct terminology to avoid administrative discrepancies.

What to do next

Update internal forms and documents to reflect 'marriage and family therapists' terminology
Review licensing materials and ensure consistent terminology with new statutory language
Notify affected staff and departments of the terminology change

Source document (simplified)

ChangeBridge / Tennessee / SB2585 Signed by Governor SB2585 Senate Bill Signed by Governor 2026-04-02

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 29; Title 8, Chapter 50; Title 33; Title 36; Title 52; Title 56; Title 63 and Title 68, relative to therapists.

As introduced, changes references to marital and family therapists to marriage and family therapists throughout the code, and makes other changes relative to marriage and family therapists. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 29; Title 8, Chapter 50; Title 33; Title 36; Title 52; Title 56; Title 63 and Title 68.

Bill Details

State Tennessee

Session 114th General Assembly

Chamber Senate

Official Source wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/Default?...

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Action History

2026-04-06 S Signed by Senate Speaker 2026-04-02 S Enrolled and ready for signatures 2026-04-02 S Concurred, Ayes 31, Nays 0 (Amendment 1 - HA0812) 2026-03-31 S Placed on Senate Message Calendar for 4/2/2026 2026-03-30 H Passed H., as am., Ayes 94, Nays 1, PNV 0 2026-03-30 H H. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA0812) 2026-03-30 H Subst. for comp. HB. 2026-03-23 H Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk. 2026-03-19 S Sponsor(s) Added. 2026-03-19 S Engrossed; ready for transmission to House 2026-03-19 S Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 32, Nays 0 2026-03-19 S Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0582) 2026-03-17 S Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 3/19/2026 2026-03-03 S Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 9, Nays 0 PNV 0 2026-02-24 S Placed on Senate Commerce and Labor Committee calendar for 3/3/2026 2026-02-05 S Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Commerce and Labor Committee 2026-02-02 S Introduced, Passed on First Consideration 2026-02-02 S Filed for introduction

Votes

2026-03-03 SENATE COMMERCE AND LABOR COMMITTEE: Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 9, Nays 0 PNV 0 Yea: 9 Nay: 0 2026-03-19 FLOOR VOTE: as Amended Third Consideration Yea: 32 Nay: 0 2026-03-30 FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION Yea: 94 Nay: 1 2026-04-02 FLOOR VOTE: Motion to Concur House Amendment # 1 Yea: 31 Nay: 0

Committee Referrals

2026-02-05 S Commerce and Labor 2026-03-03 S Calendar

Amendments

2026-03-04 SA0582

Bill Text Versions

2026-02-02 Draft

Subjects

Medical Occupations Legislative data powered by LegiScan (CC BY 4.0)

Named provisions

Title 4 - State Government Title 8 - Professions Title 33 - Mental Health Title 36 - Family Law Title 52 - Business and Occupations Title 56 - Insurance Title 63 - Medicine and Surgery Title 68 - Health