Legislation that would require local law enforcement agencies, governments, and state agencies to report data used to estimate the cumulative cost of public services used by illegal aliens was advanced on Tuesday by the State House. The bill would require the information to be supplied to the Tennessee Department of Safety’s Centralized Immigration Enforcement Division (CIED) and other state entities.
The House State and Local Government Committee notably recommended House Bill (HB) 1711, filed by State Representative Elaine Davis (R-Knoxville) as part of the 2026 immigration package, with one or more amendments, potentially including an amendment that significantly rewrites the bill to require more extensive reporting, though the final language has not been formally adopted.
Under one proposed amendment, additional reporting requirements would be imposed on most state agencies, requiring schools, universities, hospitals, local police departments, county jails, prisons, and social services agencies to provide information establishing the lawful presence of individuals who receive their services.
The proposed rewrite would also impose new requirements and restrictions on nonprofits that receive public funds, requiring them to disclose the portion of public funding used to provide services to illegal aliens.
Once complete, the report would estimate the total number of illegal aliens in Tennessee and the cost of services provided to them. The report would be delivered to Tennessee’s governor and to leaders in the General Assembly.
HB 1711 was advanced in a 17-6 vote and will next be considered by the House Finance, Ways, and Means Committee.
Though filed in January as part of the legislative package introduced by Republican leaders in the General Assembly, lawmakers have been slower to act on HB 1711, with the State and Local Government committee deferring action four times before Tuesday’s approval.
Senate Bill (SB) 2108 by State Senator Dawn White (R-Murfreesboro), the version of the legislation filed in that chamber, is similarly awaiting a vote from the Senate State and Local Government Committee, which has deferred action three times since receiving the legislation last month.
In January, State Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R-Franklin) said the legislative package would help the Trump administration achieve its immigration goals.
“We are sending a very strong message today, with this legislative package, that in Tennessee, we want to be the model for the nation,” said Johnson. “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.”
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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].
