Tennessee Senate Education Committee To Hear Bill Allowing Schools To Refuse Service To Illegal Immigrant Children

Image Credit: Canva

The Tennessee Conservative Staff –

A bill that could allow schools to opt out of serving illegal alien children is set to be heard by the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday, March 5.

Senate Bill 0836 (SB0836), sponsored by State Senator Bo Watson (R-Hickson-District 11), reads, “Notwithstanding another law to the contrary, an LEA or public charter school may enroll, or refuse to enroll, a student who is unlawfully present in the United States.”

Current Tennessee law states that “public schools are free to all persons residing within the state who are above five years of age.” This has previously been interpreted to mean that schools are required to provide education for all children, regardless of citizenship status. 

Proponents of the bill say it is a necessary step to keep local school boards from being forced to take on the burden of educating immigrant students. 

House Speaker Cameron Sexton has spoken out in favor of the bill, acknowledging the difficulty schools have in providing services for immigrant children, specifically those who do not speak English as their primary language.

Not all Republicans are in favor of the bill, however. State Senator Todd Gardenhire (R-Chattanooga-District 10) has stated that he believes the legislation is only being pushed because legislators fear that it will cause primary opposition for them next year if they do not support the measure.

“There’s an old saying on Wall Street: When the ducks are quacking, you feed ’em,” Gardenhire said. “And the hysteria of anti-Hispanics is running rampant right now, and the ducks are quacking, so this bill is designed to satisfy the ducks and feed ’em what they want to eat.”

Companion House Bill 0793 (HB0793) is sponsored by State Representative William Lamberth (R-Portland-District 44). It has been assigned to the House K-12 Subcommittee but has not yet been placed on the calendar.

Contact information for the members of the Senate Education Committee can be found below:

Sen.dawn.white@capitol.tn.gov, sen.bill.powers@capitol.tn.gov, sen.raumesh.akbari@capitol.tn.gov, sen.rusty.crowe@capitol.tn.gov, sen.ferrell.haile@capitol.tn.gov, sen.joey.hensley@capitol.tn.gov, sen.adam.lowe@capitol.tn.gov, sen.mark.pody@capitol.tn.gov, sen.kerry.roberts@capitol.tn.gov