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The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –
With about a month left in this year’s legislative session, lawmakers are working to continue moving a slate of immigration-related bills through the House and Senate, with several clearing committees in both chambers on Tuesday, March 24.
SB1779– Criminalizes illegal immigrants found in Tennessee who have a final deportation order
One of three bills advanced by a Senate committee on Tuesday, SB1779 creates a Class A misdemeanor for anyone with a final deportation order who enters, or attempts to enter the state, or is found in Tennessee state lines within 90 days of when their final order was issued.
The Senate Judiciary Committee voted for the bill 7-2 along party lines, and it will move to the Senate Calendar Committee to secure a date for a Senate floor vote.
In the House, the companion HB1704 passed on the floor 73-22 last week along party lines, so the last hurdle this bill must clear before becoming law is the full Senate.
SB1587– Prohibits illegal aliens from operating commercial vehicles in Tennessee
This bill explicitly prohibits those “not lawfully present” from driving commercial vehicles in the U.S., creating a Class A misdemeanor for the illegal driver and a direct employer who knowingly allows an illegal alien to operate a commercial vehicle in the state.
If an illegal is arrested while driving a commercial vehicle, law enforcement would be required to notify immigration authorities. Additionally, the bill creates civil liabilities for accidents caused by illegal aliens, crafting accountability for employers who knowingly allow illegals on the road and employees of any state who knowingly issue commercial drivers’ licenses to illegal aliens.
After a few clarifying exchanges between bill sponsor Sen. Jack Johnson and some committee members about how this bill would fit into the state’s ability to enforce immigration law and its enforceability for drivers and employers outside the state, the Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee ultimately passed the bill 9-2 along party lines. SB1587 will now go to the Senate Calendar Committee to secure a date on the Senate floor.
The House companion, HB1706, has been placed behind the budget by the House Finance, Ways, & Means Committee, but should the House sponsor adopt the same amendments added to the Senate version, there is a good chance it could be pulled out from behind the budget and placed back on notice for consideration.
SB2204– Elections administrators can access SAVE data to verify citizenship for voter registration
A bill passed last year requires the coordinator of elections in the state to create a portal by Jan. of 2028 that can be used by each county-level elections administrator to verify, before processing an individual’s application to register to vote, whether the applicant is a U.S. citizen based on credentials like a driver’s license or other certified identification card.
SB2204 authorizes that portal to access information and data from the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program if the Department of Homeland Security ever makes the data available via a secure web service to further ensure only eligible U.S. citizens can register to vote in Tennessee.
The Senate State and Local Government Committee passed the bill 7-2 along party lines without any further discussion or questions. It will now go to the Senate Calendar Committee for a date on the floor.
House companion HB2185 has already passed the House in a 68-22 along party lines, so this bill is now only one vote shy of becoming Tennessee law.
HB2549– Requires political agents acting on behalf of foreign adversaries to register with the state
Titled the “Foreign Agent Registration Act”, this bill closes a loophole which currently allows lobbyists who may work for or have an interest in foreign adversaries to represent those foreign entities at a state level without having to disclose whose interests they are serving.
To help close that loophole, the bill requires any individual or organization acting as an agent of a designated foreign adversary in any political activity to register with the Tennessee Ethics Commission and the Attorney General.
The legislation uses the federal definition of “foreign adversary” which includes entities like China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, and the Maduro Regime.
Some Democrats on the House State & Local Government Committee joined Republicans in voting for the bill, allowing HB2549 to pass 16-2 with both “No” votes coming from the remaining committee Democrats.
It will now go to the House Calendar & Rules Committee to schedule a full House vote. The Senate companion, SB2235, is set to be heard in the Senate State and Local Government today, March 25.
HB2547– Expands prohibitions on land purchases by foreign adversaries
This bill updates Tennessee’s restrictions on foreign adversaries acquiring land by expanding certain definitions and clarifying ownership thresholds.
Current law restricts land purchases by foreign adversaries, but it does not include mineral rights, ground water, or surface water, which this legislation seeks to remedy. It would also lower the individual ownership threshold foreign entities can hold from 33% to 10% and the aggregate threshold from 50% to 33%, addressing “minority ownership structures that may provide meaningful influence.”
This bill also found some bipartisan support on the House State & Local Government Committee, as the vote was 20-2 in favor with only 2 Democrats voting against.
HB2547 will proceed to the House floor after receiving a date from the Calendar & Rules Committee.
The Senate companion, SB2233, passed the Senate 24-4 along party lines on Monday, making this bill one step closer to becoming 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.
