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SB1046 • 2026

Civil Procedure

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 8; Title 16; Title 20; Title 28 and Title 29, relative to persons unlawfully present in this state.

Active

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

Sponsor
Bowling, Rudd
Last action
2025-02-12
Official status
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide details on specific changes to multiple titles, only that it amends them.

Limiting Legal Rights for Unauthorized Aliens

This bill stops unauthorized aliens from starting or joining civil lawsuits as plaintiffs in Tennessee.

What This Bill Does

  • Defines an 'unauthorized alien' as someone who is unlawfully present in the United States according to federal law.
  • Says that unauthorized aliens cannot start a lawsuit or join one as a plaintiff in Tennessee.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Unauthorized aliens who want to file lawsuits in Tennessee.
  • Courts and legal systems in Tennessee.

Terms To Know

unauthorized alien
A person who is unlawfully present in the United States according to federal immigration laws.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if an unauthorized alien tries to start a lawsuit anyway.
  • It's unclear how this will affect existing lawsuits or those started before the law takes effect.

Bill History

  1. 2025-02-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Taken off notice for cal in s/c Civil Justice Subcommittee of Judiciary Committee

  2. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee

  3. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Civil Justice Subcommittee for 2/19/2025

  4. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  5. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  6. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Civil Justice Subcommittee

  7. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Judiciary Committee

  8. 2025-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  9. 2025-01-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

This bill provides that
an unauthorized alien does not
have standing to commence or appear as a plaintiff in any civil action brought in this state.
As used in this bill, an "unauthorized alien"
means a person who is unlawfully present in the United States according to the terms of the federal Immigration and
Nationality Act
,
and
such term
must be interpreted consistently with any applicable federal statutes, rules, or regulations.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 609
By Rudd

SENATE BILL 1046
By Bowling

SB1046
001889
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4;
Title 8; Title 16; Title 20; Title 28 and Title 29,
relative to persons unlawfully present in this state.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 20, Chapter 1, is amended by adding
the following as a new section:
(a) As used in this section, "unauthorized alien" means a person who is
unlawfully present in the United States according to the terms of the federal Immigration
and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. § 1101 et. seq., and must be interpreted consistently with
any applicable federal statutes, rules, or regulations.
(b) Notwithstanding another law to the contrary, an unauthorized alien does not
have standing to commence or appear as a plaintiff in any civil action brought in this
state.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.