Committee advances 2-year extension for Department of Aging and Disability; officials explain merger

The Senate Government Operations Committee voted unanimously to advance SB1514, a two-year extension for the Department of Aging and Disability, after agency leadership described the statutory merger that produced the department and outlined coordination benefits.

Commissioner Brad Turner said the Tennessee Disability Act of 2024 merged the Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability with the Department of Disability and Aging. Trey Jones, the department's legislative director, told the committee that such a merger typically receives a two-year sunset extension during its initial oversight period to give legislators closer review while the new entity establishes operations. "It gives the legislature opportunities to be able to review the work that we do," Jones said.

Turner and Jones described operational benefits including better coordination of housing, health care access and employment services under a single umbrella and cited nine area agencies on aging and disability as local partners that streamline access to services.

Senators commended the department's work; Senator Sutherland asked about the Green Valley facility in Greenville, and department staff reported the project is roughly 60% complete with a target completion in early fall 2026. The committee returned from recess and recorded a unanimous vote to move SB1514 to the calendar.

The committee did not record changes to funding authorizations during the hearing; construction timelines and funding specifics for Green Valley were discussed but not detailed in the committee record.