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SB1087 • 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
Johnson, Reeves
Last action
2025-04-02
Official status
Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate State & Local Gov't. Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

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 look into how federal immigration laws are followed in Tennessee.
  • Includes studying detentions, removals, investigations related to immigration, and any progress or challenges faced.
  • Requires the department to give a report with findings and suggestions to the governor and general assembly by January 1, 2026.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Department of Safety in Tennessee
  • Governor and General Assembly of Tennessee

Terms To Know

Department of Safety
A state agency responsible for public safety matters, including law enforcement.
General Assembly
The legislative body of the state of Tennessee, made up of two houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not provide funding for the study.
  • It is unclear if the department will conduct the study as it is only urged to do so by the bill.

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 someone who is not legally in the United States to enter or stay in Tennessee.

  • Adds penalties for people who are not lawfully present in the U.S. and enter or remain in Tennessee, with different levels of punishment depending on their history.
  • Establishes procedures for judges to order individuals charged under these new laws to leave Tennessee within 72 hours.
  • Makes it clear that certain federal approvals (like asylum or DACA) can be used as defenses against prosecution.
  • The exact timing of when the law will take effect depends on future legal decisions or actions by other states and the federal government.
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 statutes regarding illegal entry under subdivision (a)(2)
  • The exact impact and context of these changes on existing laws are not fully explained by the amendment text.

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

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

  3. 2025-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  4. 2025-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

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

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

  9. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  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 
HOUSE BILL 177
By Reeves

SENATE BILL 1087
By Johnson

SB1087
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.