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The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –
A bill aimed at putting a stop to the support that non-governmental organizations (NGOs) give to illegal aliens is scheduled to be heard in the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, March 26th, 2025.
House Bill 0322 (HB0322), sponsored by Representative Chris Todd (R-Madison County-District 73), would create strong penalties for the crime of “human smuggling” which the bill defines as transporting, encouraging, or inducing ten or more adults (or five or more minors) to either illegally enter the state or to remain in Tennessee through the act of “concealing, harboring, or shielding.”
Seventeen additional Representatives have signed on as co-sponsors of the bill: Representatives Rebecca Alexander, Fred Atchley, Michele Carringer, Clay Doggett, Ron Gant, Timothy Hill, Bud Hulsey, Kelly Keisling, William Lamberth, Tom Leatherwood, Brock Martin, Jake McCalmon, Jerome Moon, Michele Reneau, Lowell Russell, Paul Sherrell, and Tom Stinnett.
HB0322 would allow the Tennessee Attorney General to shut down and dissolve NGOs that commit or are “about to commit” the offense of human smuggling and individuals who are involved could be subject to a Class E felony which carries a penalty of up to six years behind bars and fines up to $3,000.
The bill also adds to existing aggravated human trafficking law to include the offense of human smuggling if the victim is a minor under the age of 13.
In addition, the bill would make it a Class A misdemeanor to harbor or hide an illegal alien, or to assist someone in these acts, punishable by a fine of $1,000 for each person harbored or hidden.
The legislation would apply to organizations that are “foreign or domestic, limited liability companies, corporations, not-for-profit corporations, profit and not-for-profit unincorporated associations, business trusts, estates, general partnerships, limited partnerships, registered or unregistered limited liability partnerships, trusts, or joint ventures.”
While critics of the bill say it will target churches and their employees for any charitable services they provide to immigrants, the sponsor of the Senate companion bill, Senator Brent Taylor (R-Memphis-District 31) told The Tennessee Lookout that the legislation aims to hold NGOs responsible for their part in keeping illegal aliens in Tennessee.
Taylor said the bills are not meant to interfere with ministries that provide temporary shelter or English as a Second Language programs, but instead targets those organizations that provide long-term housing services.
A bill introduced in 2023 by Representative Dennis Powers that aimed to prohibit the harboring of illegal aliens on state-owned property and which made a brief reappearance in 2024, died in the legislature.
Another 2023 bill, sponsored by former Senator Frank Nicely, which would have removed exemptions from prosecution of the offense of transporting illegal aliens for common carriers and those transporting individuals for religious purposes, likewise died in committee.
To read more about the timeline of events as they are related to illegal immigration in the state of Tennessee, and a summary of related legislation that has mostly failed to address the issue, go HERE.
Contact information for the House Judiciary Committee members can be found below.
HB0322 Summary: As introduced, creates the offense of human smuggling; creates the offense of harboring or hiding, or assisting another in harboring or hiding, within this state an individual who the person knows or should have known has illegally entered or remained in the United States; authorizes the attorney general to take certain actions against a person or organization who commits or is about to commit a human trafficking offense or an aggravated human trafficking offense.
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
The Senate sponsor of HB0322/SB0392, Senator Brent Taylor, is running another bill aimed at holding NGOs (charitable organizations) accountable.
Senate Bill 0227 (SB0227) would allow charitable organizations to be held liable for damages from criminal offenses caused by illegal aliens receiving housing from that organization.
SB0227 is scheduled to be heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 24th, 2025.
Their contact information can be found below.
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.
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
About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
