Just over one month since the beginning of its second regular session, the Tennessee General Assembly has made progress the immigration bills submitted by Republicans last month as part of their effort to make the Volunteer State a “model for the nation,” as well as other immigration bills filed last year.
Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R-Franklin) said in January the legislative package was meant to send the “very clear message” that Tennessee is, “not only going to cooperate with the White House and our federal immigration officials, but we’re going to do everything they can to make sure they’re successful.”
While the State Senate Judiciary Committee has yet to act on SB 1587, Johnson’s bill to prohibit illegal aliens from operating commercial vehicles and empower Tennesseans to sue over accidents they cause, the version introduced by State Representative Jason Zachary (R-Knoxville) was advanced by the House Transportation Committee on Tuesday.
The only lawmaker on the committee to vote against advancing an amended version of HB 1706 was State Representative Aftyn Behn (D-Nashville), who recently lost her race for the U.S. House of Representatives, and last year filmed herself “bullying” U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) vehicles.
“If someone has met federal safety standards, has passed CDL exams, is operating safely, then the conduct we’re criminalizing is not unsafe driving, it’s immigration status,” argued Behn, according to NewsChannel 5.
Behn was similarly the only vote on the committee to oppose HB 1708 by State Representative Kip Capley (R-Summertown), which requires driver’s license applicants to be fluent in English.
“This continues to be an abhorrent use of our time to be castigating immigrant families who are just trying to participate in our economies and go to work and care for their kids,” Behn reportedly argued.
In a 6-2 vote, the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee also voted to advance HB 1704, by State House Majority Leader William Lamberth (R-Portland), which would make it a state-level offense to intentionally remain in the country in violation of a final deportation order, or to intentionally enter the country illegally.
HB 1710, which would require local governments to verify citizenship status of those obtaining public benefits, similarly advanced through the House departments and Agencies subcommittee in a 6-2 vote.
An identical split occurred in the same committee on HB 1711, by State Representative Elaine Davis (R-Knoxville), which would require Tennessee law enforcement to report arrests of illegal aliens, and local communities to report the number of public services used by them, to state agencies.
HB 1709, the bill by State Representative Mark Cochran (R-Englewood) to require citizenship for certain professional licenses, certificates, permits, and authorizations, also passed the House Business and Utilities Subcommittee. The legislation received marginally better support, with 7 votes in favor and two against.
The legislation by State Representative Tim Rudd (R-Murfreesboro) to require state and local governments to verify citizenship status using E-Verify, HB 1705, passed the State House Banking and Consumer Affairs subcommittee unopposed.
Though not included in the slate of immigration bills introduced in January, there was also movement on SB 1486 by State Senator Brent Taylor (R-Memphis) and HB 2018 by State Representative Mark Cochran (R-Englewood), which would create a legal requirement for Tennessee law enforcement agencies to enter 287(g) agreements to perform certain tasks for ICE.
The Senate Judiciary Committee is slated to review Taylor’s bill on March 30, while the House assigned Cochran’s to the Departments and Agencies subcommittee.
Another bill filed last year, SB 1464 by Johnson and HB 2506 by House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville), would make certain immigration records private. Though yet to receive a vote, Sexton’s version of the bill made it past its second reading in the State House, and is now assigned to the Public Services Subcommittee.
The General Assembly is currently expected to adjourn for the year in April.
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Tom Pappert is a 2025 recipient of the Dao Prize and the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star. He also reports for the Star News Network. Follow Tom on X. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “State Sen. Jack Johnson” by State Sen. Jack Johnson and “State Rep. Jason Zachary” is by State Rep. Jason Zachary.
Deport all illegal immigrants now!