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The Tennessee Conservative [By Adelia Kirchner] –
A bill allowing charitable organizations to be held liable for damages of any criminal offense committed by an illegal immigrant who is receiving housing from that charitable organization is scheduled for consideration in the House Civil Justice Subcommittee on Wednesday, April 2nd.
House Bill 811 (HB0811) is sponsored by Rep. Rusty Grills (R-Newbern-District 77).
The corresponding Senate Bill 227 (SB0227), sponsored by Sen. Brent Taylor (R-Memphis-District 31), recently passed in the Senate Judiciary Committee and will go on to receive a vote on the Senate floor.
As introduced, the legislation “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.”
For the purposes of this legislation, housing is defined as long-term living accommodations.
This includes assistance with obtaining or signing a lease for an apartment or rental home.
It does not include temporary overnight housing like homeless shelters or storm shelters.
For more information on this legislation, listen to Sen. Taylor’s recent interview with The Tennessee Conservative.
HB0811 is scheduled for a hearing during a 1:30PM (CST) meeting of the House Civil Justice Subcommittee on Wednesday, April 2nd, 2025.
Contact information for subcommittee members can be found below.
HB0811/SB0227 Summary: As introduced, 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. – Amends TCA Title 29, Chapter 34.
rep.lowell.russell@capitol.tn.gov, rep.elaine.davis@capitol.tn.gov, rep.andrew.farmer@capitol.tn.gov, rep.johnny.garrett@capitol.tn.gov, rep.johnny.garrett@capitol.tn.gov, rep.tom.stinnett@capitol.tn.gov, rep.chris.todd@capitol.tn.gov, rep.ron.travis@capitol.tn.gov
About the Author: Adelia Kirchner is a Tennessee resident and reporter for the Tennessee Conservative. Currently the host of Subtle Rampage Podcast, she has also worked for the South Dakota State Legislature and interned for Senator Bill Hagerty’s Office in Nashville, Tennessee. Adelia is The Tennessee Conservative’s on-site reporter for the Tennessee General Assembly. You can reach Adelia at adelia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
