Republican leaders in the Tennessee General Assembly on Thursday unveiled legislation for a comprehensive immigration overhaul in the state after State House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) confirmed recent meetings with top White House officials to discuss policy.
Lawmakers announced their legislative package during a press conference featuring Republican leadership in the General Assembly, including Lt. Governor Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge), State Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R-Franklin), Sexton, and Majority Leader William Lamberth (R-Portland), with Johnson stating that the bills will make Tennessee into a national model for immigration enforcement.
“We see other states that are impeding the efforts of our federal immigration officers,” said Johnson. “We have governors and other elected officials in other states that are trying to stop the federal government from getting violent illegal aliens out of their communities.”
He told the press, “We are sending a very strong message today, with this legislative package, that in Tennessee, we want to be the model for the nation. That we’re 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.”
I was proud to join my colleagues today to introduce our comprehensive legislative package to combat illegal immigration. Tennessee supports @ICEgov and stands with @realDonaldTrump. We have a once in a generation opportunity to secure our border and rid our communities of… pic.twitter.com/TRuYIfBxES
— Jack Johnson (@SenJohnson) January 16, 2026
Legislation introduced on Thursday includes HB 1704 by Lamberth, which would make it a Class A misdemeanor in Tennessee for illegal immigrants to intentionally refuse to leave the United States in compliance with a final order of removal from a federal immigration court. It would also make it a Class A misdemeanor to illegally enter the United States, or to be discovered within Tennessee’s borders after being denied admission, deported, or otherwise removed from the country by federal authorities.
Johnson additionally introduced SB 1587, submitted in the House by State Representative Jason Zachary (R-Knoxville) as HB 1706, which would make it a Class A misdemeanor for an illegal alien to operate a commercial vehicle in Tennessee. If such a motorist is discovered by local law enforcement, the bill mandates reporting to federal immigration authorities. It would additionally allow the Tennessee attorney general to pursue civil actions against illegal alien drivers.
Zachary attended the press conference and wrote in a post to X, “[Tennessee] is collaborating with the White House to make our state the nation’s leader in combating illegal immigration.”
Honored to stand with my Republican colleagues as we announced a comprehensive legislative package to address illegal immigration in TN.
Public safety, preservation of state resources and stewardship of taxpayer dollars are the top priorities of our efforts. Under President… pic.twitter.com/IRedneSy32— Rep. Jason Zachary (@JasonZacharyTN) January 15, 2026
Another bill targeting illegal alien drivers on Tennessee roads is HB 1708, submitted by State Representative Kip Capley (R-Summertown) and co-sponsored by 30 lawmakers, including Sexton and Lamberth, which would require applicants for full driver’s licenses to be proficient in speaking and reading English. Applicants who cannot speak and read according to state standards must be issued a restricted license and would be allowed to retake the test after one year.
The legislation would also require proof of U.S. citizenship, lawful residence, or legal temporary status in order to register a vehicle in Tennessee.
While these two bills will target driver’s licensing, HB 1705 by State Representative Tim Rudd (R-Murfreesboro) would require all state and local government employers to use E-Verify to confirm new employees are authorized to work in the United States. It would also authorize the attorney general to enforce compliance and strip state funding from local governments that refuse to comply.
State Representative Dennis Powers (R-Jacksboro) also submitted HB 1710, which includes local governments in the list of entities that must obtain citizenship or legal resident status before providing public benefits to residents. If complaints surface claiming governments are violating the requirement, Tennessee’s attorney general is again authorized to enforce compliance.
Meanwhile, HB 1711 by State Representative Elaine Davis (R-Knoxville) would require local law enforcement report illegal immigrants they encounter, and compel local governments to provide the state with annual reports tracking the total cost incurred while providing education and public benefits for illegal aliens, as well as the cost of prosecutions and arrests.
In another minor adjustment that could signal trouble for local governments opposed to federal immigration law, HB 1707 by State Representative Rick Scarbrough (R-Oak Ridge) would require any government entity that becomes subject to a court order regarding sanctuary city policies to comply with the court’s requirements within 120 days. The current legislation grants 90 days.
Aiming to increase immigration oversight for other licensing, HB 1709, submitted by State Representative Mark Cochran (R-Englewood), would impose citizenship requirements for becoming court reporters, attorneys, pilot instructors, operating livestock hatcheries, and obtaining professional licenses in various other professions.
Though not introduced on Thursday, when the Republican lawmakers announced their immigration agenda, at least three more bills appear to be making a resurgence this year.
Among these is SB 1486 by State Senator Brent Taylor (R-Memphis), submitted late last year, which would amend existing law to require local law enforcement to honor any detainer for an illegal alien requested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Taylor’s bill was advanced to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.
Submitted by Johnson last June, SB 1464, which would deem the names of immigration officials private and punish leaks with a Class E Felony, also saw movement on Tuesday, when it was assigned to the Senate’s State and Local Government committee.
Lawmakers also reportedly signaled interest last year in reviving HB 793 by Lamberth. Passed in the Senate as SB 836 by State Senator Bo Watson (R-Hixson) last year, the legislation would give school districts the authority to deny enrollment or charge tuition to illegal alien students, but the House version never made it out of committees.
The legislation has been interpreted as a direct challenge to the split decision from the U.S. Supreme Court in 1982, Plyler v. Doe, which determined that illegal immigrants must be allowed to attend public school.
Sexton, who visited the White House last month amid meetings with the Trump administration to align immigration policies, wrote in a post to X that the bills would keep Tennessee from drifting politically leftward through immigration.
Today in Nashville, Republicans announced a comprehensive plan to put an end to illegal immigration in Tennessee. Laws will be enforced locally and statewide, will preserve legal immigration, protect taxpayers and end sanctuary cities loopholes. Tennessee will not become the next… pic.twitter.com/BIEddmsl8u
— Speaker Cameron Sexton (@CSexton25) January 15, 2026
Republicans last year passed legislation to create Tennessee’s Chief Immigration Enforcement Division, a new branch of the Tennessee Department of Safety (TDOS), whose chief executive leads, “a whole-of-state-government approach to identifying and addressing the presence of individuals in Tennessee who are subject to final orders of removal or who are violent criminal offenders in the country unlawfully.”
This year, Republicans have proposed legislation to create the Office of Homeland Security under TDOS, which would be charged with investigating terrorism across the Volunteer State.
Tennessee Republicans propose the immigration agenda weeks after the Trump administration announced that 2.5 million illegal aliens left the country in 2025, with 1.9 million voluntarily leaving the country, and over 605,000 deportations by federal authorities.
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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].
E-verify is NOT required but should be for ANY employment.
Good, maybe that will keep the freeloaders out of Tennessee.
Last I looked, we already use E-verify. Or was that another Goberment lie?
If companies are hiring without E-verify, maybe it’s time to close those companies.
Pleased that our legislature is taking a firm stance regarding illegal immigration.