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The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –
A bevy of bills related to illegal immigration are slated to be heard in House and Senate committees this week ranging in topic from citizenship checks for state benefits to increased reporting on illegals to preventing foreign actors from holding public office. Below, find more information about each bill and ways to act on the legislation.
HB1710– Requires citizenship checks for state benefits
This bill would require local governments to verify the citizenship or legal residency in the U.S. of anyone who is 18 years or older applying for federal, state, or local public benefits. These expanded requirements would mean state governmental agencies and local health departments would all have to check citizenship status of any applicant for benefits, a provision which could help demagnetize the state to illegal aliens.
It has been placed on the House State & Local Government Committee calendar for Wednesday, March 4.
HB1711– Increased reporting requirements on illegal immigrants
As amended, the legislation requires the names of illegal aliens to be reported by various public entities including school districts, institutions of higher education, prisons, healthcare providers, and social services unless doing so conflicts with federal laws such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA).
It further mandates annual reports on the actual costs incurred by the state for educating the children illegal aliens and other public benefits received.
The bill is also set to be heard in the House State & Local Government Committee on Wednesday, March 4.
HB2219– Mandatory participation in federal 287(g) immigration enforcement program
Under an amendment which rewrote the bill, the legislation would mandate that all city and county law enforcement agencies enter into agreements with the 287(g) program which allows certified officers to identify and process removable aliens, place immigration detainers and initiate removal proceedings, and then ensure transfer to ICE.
Agencies that do not enter into the agreement could have state funds withheld.
This bill is another which will be heard by the House State & Local Government Committee on Wednesday, March 4.
HB2018/SB1486– Law enforcement hold illegals longer so federal agencies can assume custody
This bill requires local law enforcement agencies to keep a detained illegal alien for 48 hours beyond the time the subject would have otherwise been released from local custody. This provision will ensure there is enough time for federal immigration authorities to take custody of the subject before they are released by a local law enforcement agency and allowed back into the community.
HB2018 is scheduled for the House Departments & Agencies Subcommittee for Tuesday, March 3, while the Senate companion bill, SB1486, is on the Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for Tuesday, March 10.
SB1464/HB2506– Criminalizes doxxing of immigration officers
Intending to keep immigration officers safe while they carry out their operations, the bill would make it a class E felony for state and local officials to negligently release certain identifying information, like names or addresses, of officers involved in immigration enforcement. Additionally, information related to specific operational activities, such as dates and times, location, logistics, or strategies must also be kept confidential.
SB1464 has been placed on the Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for Tuesday, March 3. The House companion, HB2506, will be heard in the House Public Service Subcommittee on Wednesday, March 4.
SB1901/HB1709– Prohibits illegal aliens from obtaining professional licenses
Under this proposal, those seeking to obtain professional licensure in the affected areas like nursing, teaching, or contracting, individuals would have to provide proof they are a United States citizen or a qualified alien. If unable to provide such proof, they would be required to show proof that they have applied for “a valid visa that would authorize such person to work in the United States under federal law.”
SB1901 is scheduled for the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee on Tuesday, March 3. The House companion, HB1709, is set for the House Commerce Committee on Wednesday, March 4.
SB1825– Foreign actors cannot hold federal elected office
This bill simply states, “A person shall not qualify as a candidate in a primary election for federal office who 1) Holds dual citizenship; or 2) is not a natural-born citizen of the United States.” It will be heard in the Senate State and Local Government Committee on Tuesday, March 3.
To contact committee members about any of these bills and express your support, use the information below:
House State & Local Government Committee– HB1710, HB1711, & HB2219 to be heard Wednesday, March 4
HB1710- Requires citizenship checks for state benefits
HB1711- Increased reporting requirements on illegal immigrants
HB2219- Mandatory participation in federal 287(g) immigration program
Rep.john.crawford@capitol.tn.gov; rep.dave.wright@capitol.tn.gov; rep.rush.bricken@capitol.tn.gov; rep.ed.butler@capitol.tn.gov;rep.michele.carringer@capitol.tn.gov; rep.jesse.chism@capitol.tn.gov; rep.vincent.dixie@capitol.tn.gov; rep.rick.eldridge@capitol.tn.gov; rep.dan.howell@capitol.tn.gov; rep.michael.lankford@capitol.tn.gov; rep.tom.leatherwood@capitol.tn.gov; rep.mary.littleton@capitol.tn.gov; rep.greg.martin@capitol.tn.gov; rep.jake.mccalmon@capitol.tn.gov; rep.larry.miller@capitol.tn.gov; rep.bo.mitchell@capitol.tn.gov; rep.jerome.moon@capitol.tn.gov; rep.jason.powell@capitol.tn.gov; rep.dennis.powers@capitol.tn.gov; rep.tim.rudd@capitol.tn.gov; rep.iris.rudder@capitol.tn.gov; rep.gabby.salinas@capitol.tn.gov; rep.todd.warner@capitol.tn.gov
House Departments & Agencies Subcommittee– HB2018 to be heard Tuesday, March 3
HB2018- Law enforcement hold illegals longer so federal agencies can assume custody
Rep.rick.eldridge@capitol.tn.gov; rep.michele.carringer@capitol.tn.gov; rep.jesse.chism@capitol.tn.gov; rep.john.crawford@capitol.tn.gov; rep.michael.lankford@capitol.gov; rep.greg.martin@capitol.tn.gov; rep.larry.miller@capitol.tn.gov; rep.dennis.powers@capitol.tn.gov
Senate Judiciary Committee– SB1486 to be heard Tuesday, March 10
SB1486- Law enforcement hold illegals longer so federal agencies can assume custody
Sen.todd.gardenhire@capitol.tn.gov; Sen.kerry.roberts@capitol.tn.gov; Sen.paul.rose@capitol.tn.gov; Sen.bobby.harshbarger@capitol.tn.gov; Sen.sara.kyle@capitol.tn.gov; Sen.london.lamar@capitol.tn.gov; Sen.john.stevens@capitol.tn.gov; Sen.brent.taylor@capitol.tn.gov; Sen.dawn.white@capitol.tn.gov
Senate State and Local Government Committee– SB1464 & SB1825 to be heard Tuesday, March 3
SB1464- Criminalizes doxxing of immigration officers
SB1825- Foreign actors cannot hold federal elected office
Sen.richard.briggs@capitol.tn.gov; sen.page.walley@capitol.tn.gov; sen.tom.hatcher@capitol.tn.gov; sen.todd.gardenhire@capitol.tn.gov; sen.ed.jackson@capitol.tn.gov; sen.sara.kyle@capitol.tn.gov; sen.adam.lowe@capitol.tn.gov; sen.kerry.roberts@capitol.tn.gov; sen.jeff.yarbro@capitol.tn.gov
House Public Service Subcommittee– HB2506 to be heard Wednesday, March 4
HB2506- Criminalizes doxxing of immigration officers
Rep.iris.rudder@capitol.tn.gov; rep.rick.eldridge@capitol.tn.gov; rep.michael.lankford@capitol.tn.gov; rep.jake.mccalmon@capitol.tn.gov; rep.gabby.salinas@capitol.tn.gov; rep.todd.warner@capitol.tn.gov
Senate Commerce and Labor Committee– SB1901to be heard Tuesday, March 3
SB1901- Prohibits illegal aliens from obtaining professional licenses
Sen.paul.bailey@capitol.tn.gov; sen.brent.taylor@capitol.tn.gov; sen.steve.southerland@capitol.tn.gov; sen.raumesh.akbari@capitol.tn.gov; sen.jack.johnson@capitol.tn.gov; sen.shane.reeves@capitol.tn.gov; sen.john.stevens@capitol.tn.gov; sen.bo.watson@capitol.tn.gov; sen.ken.yager@capitol.tn.gov
House Commerce Committee– HB1709 to be heard Wednesday, March 4
HB1709- Prohibits illegal aliens from obtaining professional licenses
Rep.kevin.vaughan@capitol.tn.gov, rep.rush.bricken@capitol.tn.gov, rep.clark.boyd@capitol.tn.gov, rep.shaundelle.brooks@capitol.tn.gov, rep.karen.camper@capitol.tn.gov, rep.john.ray.clemmons@capitol.tn.gov, rep.mark.cochran@capitol.tn.gov, rep.tandy.darby@capitol.tn.gov, rep.jeremy.faison@capitol.tn.gov, rep.rusty.grills@capitol.tn.gov; rep.michael.hale@capitol.tn.gov, rep.ga.hardaway@capitol.tn.gov, rep.kirk.haston@capitol.tn.gov, rep.caleb.hemmer@capitol.tn.gov, rep.kelly.keisling@capitol.tn.gov, rep.justin.lafferty@capitol.tn.gov, rep.michael.lankford@capitol.tn.gov; rep.susan.lynn@capitol.tn.gov, rep.pat.marsh@capitol.tn.gov, rep.brock.martin@capitol.tn.gov, rep.jerome.moon@capitol.tn.gov, rep.dennis.powers@capitol.tn.gov; rep.greg.vital@capitol.tn.gov, rep.jason.zachary@capitol.tn.gov
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.
