Governor Bill Lee on Wednesday announced a special legislative session for the Tennessee General Assembly to pass the governor’s school choice initiative, the Education Freedom Act, as well as disaster relief for citizens in East Tennessee still recovering from Hurricane Helene, and to “consider public safety measures related to illegal immigration to ensure the state is prepared for federal policy implementation.”
Lee did not specify what public safety measures lawmakers would consider in the special session, which is set to convene on January 27, but five bills related to illegal immigration have already been introduced to the General Assembly by Republican lawmakers.
These include House Bill (HB)145 by State Representative Gino Bulso (R-Brentwood), which would require financial institutions to verify the immigration status of those who attempt to send money outside the country. Bulso filed the bill on Tuesday.
Another bill, Senate Bill (SB) 17, would impose a $1,000 fine for Tennessee law enforcement agencies that fail to comply with the state’s requirement to report illegal immigrants to relevant federal agencies, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), for possible removal from the country. State Representative Todd Gardenhire (R-Chattanooga) filed the legislation in December 2024.
More legislation, HB 69 and SB 133 would require Tennessee state agencies to coordinate to develop portals that allow election workers to quickly verify that those applying to vote are U.S. citizens with the legal right to cast a ballot. It was filed earlier this month by Majority Leader William Lamberth (R-Portland) and Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R-Franklin).
State Representative Scott Cepicky (R-Culleoka) and State Senator Joey Hensley (R-Hohenwald) additionally introduced HB 11 and SB 5 in the State House and State Senate, which would require the standard driver’s licenses and other forms of photo identification provided to U.S. citizens be visually distinct from those documents supplied to lawful permanent residents and other qualified non-citizens living in Tennessee.
Hensley also joined State Representative Todd Warner (R-Chapel Hill) to introduce SB 6 and HB 10, which would require Tennessee law enforcement agencies to detain illegal immigrants for the maximum amount of time allowed under the law, allowing federal authorities the greatest window to take custody. Should ICE fail to appear, the bill would require law enforcement to release the illegal immigrants in a sanctuary city.
Warner vocally opposed the 2024 attempt to pass school choice legislation in Tennessee.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
