Tort Liability and Reform

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details about the bill's failure beyond its status in the Civil Justice Subcommittee.

Tort Liability and Reform Act

This bill allows people who suffer injury, death, or property damage due to negligent actions of federal immigration agents to sue for damages and legal costs within one year.

What This Bill Does

• Creates a cause of action through which individuals can file lawsuits against federal agencies if they are injured by the negligence of federal immigration enforcement agents.
• Allows recovery of compensatory damages from the federal agency involved in an immigration enforcement action.
• Permits reasonable attorney's fees and costs to be recovered as part of the lawsuit.
• Requires that claims must be filed within one year after the injury or damage occurs.

Who It Names or Affects

• People who suffer injuries, death, or property damage due to negligent actions by federal immigration enforcement agents.
• Federal agencies involved in immigration enforcement.

Terms To Know

Compensatory damages

Money paid to someone for actual losses suffered from an injury or damage.

Cause of action

A legal reason to file a lawsuit.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill did not pass and was stopped in the Civil Justice Subcommittee.
• It only applies if federal immigration agents are negligent during enforcement actions.
• Claims must be filed within one year of when the injury or damage happened.

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

SENATE BILL 2677
By Yarbro

HOUSE BILL 2605
By Salinas
HB2605
012776
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 28
and Title 29, relative to civil liability.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 29, Chapter 34, Part 2, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
(a) A person who suffers injury, death, or property damage caused by the
negligent action of an agent of the federal government while the agent is engaged in an
immigration enforcement action may file a suit against the federal agency that employs
the agent to recover:
(1) Compensatory damages; and
(2) Reasonable attorney's fees and costs of bringing the action.
(b) A person must file a claim under subsection (a) within one (1) year of the
cause of action accruing.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.