Image Credit: TN General Assembly
The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –
An immigration-related bill that was initially introduced to the legislature last year has finally crossed the finish line, passing the Senate on Thursday, March 12 despite several Republicans voting against the measure.
SB0990 by Sen. Joey Hensley (R-Hohenwald-District 28) lowers from six to one the number of employees a business must have to be considered a private employer for the purposes of the Tennessee Lawful Employment Act.
All private employers would be required to acquire proof 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, passport, or visa.
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 license would be suspended until the violation is remedied, but for a third violation employers would lose their licenses permanently.
Sen. Hensley has also previously clarified that the legislation only applies to W2 employees and not independent contractors.
On the Senate floor, the body conformed to the House version of the bill, which passed last week, and there were no comments or questions from any Senators.
While SB0990 passed the Senate 19-13, Republicans Paul Bailey, Richard Briggs, Todd Gardenhire, Tom Hatcher, Becky Massey, Steve Southerland, and Page Walley joined all six Senate Democrats in voting “No.”
With the Senate adopting the House version and not adding any amendments of their own, the legislation should soon be enrolled, condensing both chambers’ iterations into one bill sharing the same language and signed by both chamber Speakers, and sent to the Governor’s desk for signature into law.
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.
