Several Immigration-Related Bills Make Headway In Tennessee Legislature

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The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –

Numerous bills on various immigration topics including doxing, legal status verification by employers, and a proposed constitutional amendment ensuring only citizens can vote passed through Tennessee Senate and House committees on Tuesday, March 3.

SB1464– Criminalizes Doxing Of Immigration Officers

Intending to keep immigration officers safe while they carry out their operations, the bill would make it a class E felony for state and local officials to negligently release certain identifying information, like names or addresses, of officers involved in immigration enforcement. Additionally, information related to specific operational activities, such as dates and times, location, logistics, or strategies must also be kept confidential.

Tennessee Lawmaker Files Bill To Criminalize Doxxing Of Immigration Enforcement Officers

During the Senate State and Local Government Committee meeting, bill sponsor Sen. Jack Johnson emphasized the need for the bill due to the prevalence of social media and its usage to target and potentially harm law enforcement officers or their families.

After discussion, the committee passed the bill 6-2 along party lines, and it will now advance to the full Senate. The House companion version, HB2506, is scheduled for the House Public Service Subcommittee on Wednesday, March 4.

SB0990– Requires Private Employers To Verify Work Authorization

This legislation lowers from six to one the number of paid employees an individual must have to be considered a private employer for the purposes of the Tennessee Lawful Employment Act. All private employers would be required to prove that anyone they hire is here legally, either using the E-Verify system or another proof of legal status like a driver’s license, birth certificate, or passport.

Bill sponsor Sen. Joey Henlsey clarified during the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee meeting that the legislation would only apply to W2 employees and not independent contractors.

Should a private employer fail to submit the required evidence, the employer’s business license could be subject to suspension for failure to comply. For a first or second violation the business license would be suspended until the violation is remedied but for a third violation employers would lose their licenses permanently.

The committee voted 6-2 in favor of the legislation, with Republican committee chairman Paul Bailey joining Democrat Raumesh Akbari in voting “No”.

Republican Steve Southerland elected to pass on the vote. SB0990 will move to the full Senate.

Its House companion, HB1194 is scheduled for a full House vote on Thursday, March 5.

Tennessee Bill Requiring Private Employers To Verify Work Authorization For Everyone They Pay Is Now Up For House Vote

SJR0624/HJR0808– Proposed Constitutional Amendment to Specify Only U.S. Citizens Can Vote

Proposed by Republicans Sen. Jack Johnson and Rep. Andrew Farmer, this joint resolution would reaffirm that only U.S. citizens may vote in all Tennessee elections. Sponsors said that while they do not currently believe there is an issue with this in the state, the proposed amendment would ensure that the Tennessee Constitution could not be circumvented in case some point down the line the legislature or any other governing authorities attempted to circumvent state law.

Before it can appear before voters, a proposed constitutional amendment must first pass two consecutive sessions of the General Assembly, the first with a simple majority and the second with a 2/3 majority. It can then only be referred to the ballot during a gubernatorial election year.

The resolution was passed in both the Senate Judiciary Committee and the House Elections & Campaign Finance Subcommittee along party lines.

SJR0624 will proceed to the full Senate while HJR0808 heads to the House State & Local Government Committee.

House State & Local Government Committee – HJR0808 likely to be heard next week

HJR0808 reaffirm that only U.S. citizens may vote in all Tennessee elections.

To contact your State Senators with your thoughts about SJR0624, find your legislator here.

HB2185– Elections Administrators Can Access SAVE Data to Verify Citizenship For Voter Registration

A bill passed last year requires the coordinator of elections in the state to create a portal by Jan. of 2028 that can be used by each county-level elections administrator to verify, before processing an individual’s application to register to vote, whether the applicant is a U.S. citizen based on credentials like a driver’s license or other certified identification card.

HB2185 authorizes that portal to access information and data from the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program if the Department of Homeland Security ever makes the data available via a secure web service to further ensure only eligible U.S. citizens can register to vote in Tennessee.

There were no questions or comments on the bill, and the House Elections & Campaign Finance Committee passed the legislation 6-1 along party lines.

It will now move to the full State and Local Government Committee.

House State & Local Government Committee– HB2185 will likely be heard next week

HB2185 authorizes that portal to access information and data from the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements program if the Department of Homeland Security ever makes the data available via a secure web service to further ensure only eligible U.S. citizens can register to vote in Tennessee.

About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.

Several Immigration-Related Bills Make Headway In Tennessee Legislature