Image Credit: TN General Assembly
The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –
A bill allowing charitable organizations or non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to be held liable for crimes committed by illegal immigrants receiving housing assistance from the organization passed in the Senate as amended on Thursday.
The 24 to 4 vote along party lines had only one Republican naysayer, Senator Todd Gardenhire (R-Chattanooga-District 10) who was present but chose not to vote. Gardenhire has a record of voting against bills seeking to curb illegal immigration within the state.
He also abstained from voting on this particular piece of legislation when it was heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee last week.
Senate Bill 0227 (SB0227), sponsored by Senator Brent Taylor (R-Memphis-District 31), “allows a charitable organization that provides housing to a person whom the charitable organization knows is unlawfully present in the United States to be held liable for a loss, damages, injury, or death resulting from a criminal offense committed by the person who is unlawfully present in the United States while the person is receiving housing services from the charitable organization if the charitable organization’s conduct in providing housing constitutes negligence, gross negligence, or willful and wanton misconduct.”
Taylor has stated that the legislation is a public safety bill in keeping with President Trump’s renewed focus on illegal immigration. It will give anyone who is a victim of a crime committed by an illegal alien, a private right of action against non-profits that have assisted the illegal alien with housing.
Housing” is defined as long-term living accommodations, including assistance with obtaining or signing a lease for an apartment or rental homes and does not include temporary overnight housing such as homeless shelters or storm shelters.
“This bill does not prevent the NGOs from assisting illegal aliens if that’s their misguided core mission,” said Taylor last week in the Senate Judiciary Committee, “but it does require them to be more vigilant in their vetting and supervising of illegal aliens.”
The corresponding House Bill 0811 (HB0811), sponsored by Representative Rusty Grills (R-Newbern-District 77), has been placed on the calendar for the House Judiciary Committee for Wednesday, April 9th, 2025.
Contact information for members of the committee can be found below.
HB0811/SB0227 Holds Charitable Organizations Liable For Crimes Committed By Illegal Immigrants
Rep.andrew.farmer@capitol.tn.gov, rep.elaine.davis@capitol.tn.gov, rep.rebecca.alexander@capitol.tn.gov, rep.fred.atchley@capitol.tn.gov, rep.gino.bulso@capitol.tn.gov, rep.clay.doggett@capitol.tn.gov, rep.rick.eldridge@capitol.tn.gov, rep.johnny.garrett@capitol.tn.gov, rep.torrey.harris@capitol.tn.gov, rep.gloria.johnson@capitol.tn.gov, rep.kelly.keisling@capitol.tn.gov, rep.william.lamberth@capitol.tn.gov, rep.mary.littleton@capitol.tn.gov, rep.jason.powell@capitol.tn.gov, rep.dennis.powers@capitol.tn.gov, rep.lowell.russell@capitol.tn.gov, rep.gabby.salinas@capitol.tn.gov, rep.rick.scarbrough@capitol.tn.gov, rep.tom.stinnett@capitol.tn.gov, rep.chris.todd@capitol.tn.gov, rep.joe.towns@capitol.tn.gov, rep.ron.travis@capitol.tn.gov
About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
