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HB0177 • 2026

Immigration

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 7; Title 8; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40 and Title 55, relative to illegal immigration.

Crime
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Reeves, Johnson
Last action
2025-04-08
Official status
Taken off notice for cal. in State & Local Government Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on the specific actions or requirements beyond urging and reporting. It also lacks information about funding for the study.

Tennessee Immigration Study Act

This bill urges Tennessee's Department of Safety to study how federal immigration laws are enforced in the state and submit a report by January 1, 2026.

What This Bill Does

  • Urges the Department of Safety to study the enforcement of federal immigration laws, detentions and removals, investigations related to illegal immigration, and progress and challenges in this area.
  • Requires the department to submit a report with findings and recommendations by January 1, 2026.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Department of Safety
  • People involved in enforcing federal immigration laws

Terms To Know

Immigration
Moving to a new country to live and work there.
Enforcement
Making sure rules are followed.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not provide funding for the study.
  • It is unclear if the department will actually conduct the study or submit a report.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

Amendment 1-0 to SB1087

Plain English: The amendment adds new laws to Tennessee Code Annotated that make it a crime for people who are not legally in the United States to enter or stay in Tennessee.

  • Adds new penalties for individuals who are not lawfully present in the U.S. and enter or remain in Tennessee, with different levels of punishment depending on whether they have been previously excluded or removed from the country.
  • Establishes a process where judges can order people charged under this law to leave Tennessee within 72 hours.
  • Makes it clear that individuals convicted under these new laws cannot be released early from their sentences.
  • The exact timing of when these provisions will take effect depends on future legal or political developments, such as decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court or actions in other states' legislatures.
Amendment 2-0 to SB1087

Plain English: The amendment modifies Tennessee Code Annotated to specify that certain provisions apply only to individuals aged eighteen or older and adds a reference to Florida’s laws on illegal entry.

  • Adds an age requirement of eighteen years or older for the provisions in § 39-7-101(a).
  • Includes references to Florida's statutes related to illegal entry under another part of the bill.
  • The exact impact and context of these changes are not fully explained by the provided amendment text alone.

Bill History

  1. 2025-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Taken off notice for cal. in State & Local Government Committee

  2. 2025-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 4/9/2025

  3. 2025-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 4/9/2025

  4. 2025-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate State & Local Gov't. Committee

  5. 2025-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 4/2/2025

  6. 2025-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate State and Local Government Committee to 4/2/2025

  7. 2025-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rule #83(8) Suspended, to be heard in Senate Judiciary Committee on 4/2/2025

  8. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 4/2/2025

  9. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 4/1/2025

  10. 2025-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  11. 2025-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to State & Local Government Committee

  12. 2025-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  13. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Departments & Agencies Subcommittee for 3/25/2025

  14. 2025-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Departments & Agencies Subcommittee to 3/25/2025

  15. 2025-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  16. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Departments & Agencies Subcommittee for 3/18/2025

  17. 2025-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Departments & Agencies Subcommittee

  18. 2025-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Ref. to State & Local Government Committee - Judiciary Committee

  19. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate State and Local Government Committee

  20. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  21. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  22. 2025-01-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, caption bill, held on desk - pending amdt.

  23. 2025-01-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  24. 2025-01-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  25. 2025-01-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 1087
By Johnson

HOUSE BILL 177
By Reeves

HB0177
001712
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4;
Title 7; Title 8; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40 and Title
55, relative to illegal immigration.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. The department of safety is urged to study the enforcement of federal
immigration laws, detentions and removals, investigations in this state, and immigration-related
progress and challenges. If such study is conducted, on or before January 1, 2026, then the
department shall submit a report, including findings and recommendations, to the governor and
general assembly.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.