Tennessee Senate & House Committees To Hear Bill Allowing School Districts To Unenroll Illegal Students

Image: Protestors at the Capitol against HB0793/SB0836 Image Credit: Adelia Kirchner/ The Tennessee Conservative

The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –

HB0793/SB0836 has a busy week ahead as it is scheduled to come before the Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee on Tuesday, 3/25 and the House Education Committee on Wednesday, 3/26.

This legislation would give Tennessee public school districts the option to unenroll or refuse enrollment of a student if it cannot be proven that the student is in the state and country lawfully.

One of the simpler bills this session, its single sentence 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.”

House Majority Leader Rep. William Lamberth (R-Portland-District 44), the House version’s sponsor, has stated, “Every district in this state right now primarily asks for three things when a child enrolls in school. Birth certificate, proof of residency, proof of immunizations.”

He noted that school districts can currently only enforce two of those three requirements and that this bill, “gives an option to the local districts to require that proof of citizenship, just as they require proof of residency or immunizations.”

Senator Bo Watson (R-Hixson-District 11), carrying the bill’s Senate companion, said, “I understand why people choose not to discuss this sensitive issue of how we deal with the undocumented students that are in many of our schools, but it is a fiscal reality that we need to address and this bill seeks to do that. This is a fiscal issue, despite what people might think or say and I am willing to stand here and take the slings and arrows, the criticisms, and the name calling because I have a responsibility to the financial oversight of our state and her subdivisions.” 

The intent of this legislation seems to be for it to get challenged in court and potentially lead to the overturning of Plyler V. Doe (1982), a U.S. Supreme Court decision which ruled that states cannot deny undocumented children a free public education.

Immigrant rights groups and organizations have been actively protesting the bill in both chambers, disrupting the meetings and yelling at lawmakers. 

To contact the members of the Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee before their Tuesday, 3/25 meeting use this information:

Sen.bo.watson@capitol.tn.gov, sen.john.stevens@capitol.tn.gov, sen.joey.hensley@capitol.tn.gov, sen.ferrell.haile@capitol.tn.gov, sen.jack.johnson@capitol.tn.gov, sen.london.lamar@capitol.tn.gov, sen.bill.powers@capitol.tn.gov, sen.paul.rose@capitol.tn.gov, sen.page.walley@capitol.tn.gov, sen.ken.yager@capitol.tn.gov, sen.jeff.yarbro@capitol.tn.gov

To reach the members of the House Education Committee before their Wednesday, 3/26 meeting use this information:

Rep.mark.white@capitol.tn.gov, rep.kevin.raper@capitol.tn.gov, rep.jody.barrett@capitol.tn.gov, rep.charlie.baum@capitol.tn.gov, rep.gino.bulso@capitol.tn.gov, rep.scott.cepicky@capitol.tn.gov, rep.ronnie.glynn@capitol.tn.gov, rep.yusuf.hakeem@capitol.tn.gov, rep.kirk.haston@capitol.tn.gov, rep.tim.hicks@capitol.tn.gov, rep.chris.hurt@capitol.tn.gov, rep.gloria.johnson@capitol.tn.gov, rep.renea.jones@capitol.tn.gov, rep.aron.maberry@capitol.tn.gov, rep.sam.mckenzie@capitol.tn.gov, rep.jay.reedy@capitol.tn.gov, rep.lee.reeves@capitol.tn.gov, rep.tim.rudd@capitol.tn.gov, rep.william.slater@capitol.tn.gov, rep.robert.stevens@capitol.tn.gov

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.