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HB2211 • 2026

State Government

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 33; Title 37; Title 49; Title 68 and Title 71, relative to immigration status of children.

Children Education
Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor
Powell, Yarbro
Last action
2026-03-17
Official status
Failed in s/c Departments & Agencies Subcommittee of State & Local Government Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific enforcement mechanisms or penalties for non-compliance with the Act.

Safe Access to Schools and Child Services Act

This bill prohibits schools, local agencies, and state government from asking children under 18 for their immigration status unless required by federal or state law.

What This Bill Does

  • Creates the 'Safe Access to Schools and Child Services Act'.
  • Prohibits schools, local agencies, and state government units from requiring children under 18 to share their immigration status for enrollment, attendance, or services, except as required by federal or state law or a court order.
  • Does not stop compliance with federal immigration laws or cooperation with federal authorities as needed.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Children under 18 years old
  • Schools and local agencies
  • State government departments and offices

Terms To Know

Local agency
Any county, city, branch or part of a county or city, public utility, school district, or other similar group.
State agency
Each board, commission, committee, department, office, or unit within the state government.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not apply to situations where federal or state law requires sharing immigration information.
  • It is unclear how this act will be enforced and what consequences there might be for non-compliance.
  • This bill did not pass in the current session.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Failed in s/c Departments & Agencies Subcommittee of State & Local Government Committee

  2. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate State and Local Government Committee

  3. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Departments & Agencies Subcommittee for 3/17/2026

  4. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/17/2026

  5. 2026-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Departments & Agencies Subcommittee to 3/17/2026

  6. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Departments & Agencies Subcommittee for 3/10/2026

  7. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Departments & Agencies Subcommittee

  8. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to State & Local Government Committee - Education Committee

  9. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  10. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  11. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  12. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  13. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
SENATE BILL 2491
By Yarbro

HOUSE BILL 2211
By Powell
HB2211
012253
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4;
Title 33; Title 37; Title 49; Title 68 and Title 71,
relative to immigration status of children.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. This act is known and may be cited as the "Safe Access to Schools and
Child Services Act."
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 3, Part 1, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
(a) A state agency or local agency shall not condition enrollment, attendance, or
the receipt of services for a child who is under eighteen (18) years of age on the
disclosure of the child's immigration status, except as explicitly required by federal or
state law or court order.
(b) This section does not limit compliance with federal immigration law or limit
cooperation with federal authorities as required by law.
(c) As used in this section:
(1) "Local agency" means any county, municipality, branch or agency of
a county or municipality, public utility, utility district, entity created pursuant to any
interlocal agreement, or any other political subdivision thereof, and includes an
LEA, public school, and public charter school; and
(2) "State agency" means each state board, commission, committee,
department, office, or any other unit of state government.
SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 37, Chapter 5, Part 1, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:

- 2 - 012253

(a) The department shall not condition enrollment, attendance, or the receipt of
services for a child who is under eighteen (18) years of age on the disclosure of the
child's immigration status, except as explicitly required by federal or state law or court
order.
(b) This section does not limit compliance with federal immigration law or limit
cooperation with federal authorities as required by law.
SECTION 4. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 1, Part 1, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
(a) A state agency or local agency shall not condition enrollment, attendance, or
the receipt of services for a child who is under eighteen (18) years of age on the
disclosure of the child's immigration status, except as explicitly required by federal or
state law or court order.
(b) This section does not limit compliance with federal immigration law or limit
cooperation with federal authorities as required by law.
(c) As used in this section:
(1) "Local agency" means any county, municipality, branch or agency of
a county or municipality, public utility, utility district, entity created pursuant to any
interlocal agreement, or any other political subdivision thereof, and includes an
LEA, public school, and public charter school; and
(2) "State agency" means each state board, commission, committee,
department, office, or any other unit of state government.
SECTION 5. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 71, Chapter 1, Part 1, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
(a) The department shall not condition enrollment, attendance, or the receipt of
services for a child who is under eighteen (18) years of age on the disclosure of the

- 3 - 012253

child's immigration status, except as explicitly required by federal or state law or court
order.
(b) This section does not limit compliance with federal immigration law or limit
cooperation with federal authorities as required by law.
SECTION 6. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.