Official Summary Text
GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES AND OFFICIALS
This bill requires each state and local governmental entity and official to maintain the following information relative to the operational enforcement of federal and state immigration laws as confidential, and such information is not subject to public in
spection:
The name, contact information, address, and other personal identifying information of each federal, state, or local officer, agent, or official participating in federal immigration enforcement activities in this state.
Information related to specific future immigration enforcement operational activities, such as the date and time, location, logistics, or strategies of such activities.
The requirements above preempt any policy, procedure, or rule of a state or local governmental entity or official in conflict with such requirements. This bill clarifies that the requirements above, as well as other requirements in present law relative
to enforcement of federal immigration laws, apply to a mayor of a county, incorporated city, or town, and metropolitan government.
However, the above requirements do not (i) apply to information that is public pursuant to federal law or a court order, or (ii) prohibit federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and officers from sharing information necessary to facilitate the
enforcement of federal and state immigration laws.
This bill provides that an official who, acting with criminal negligence, releases information in violation of this bill commits a Class E felony and could be subject to ouster. Additionally, this bill does not preclude the enforcement of other applicab
le criminal and civil penalties under federal or state law.
OFFICIALS SUBJECT TO REMOVAL
Present law provides that every person holding any office of trust or profit, under and by virtue of any of the laws of the state, either state, county, or municipal, except such officers as are by the constitution removable only and exclusively by certain methods, who commit certain actions forfeit such office and must be ousted from such office. This bill adds to the list of those actions in present law, acting with criminal negligence in the unlawful release of confidential information relative to the operational enforcement of federal and state immigration laws.
UNLAWFUL RELEASE OF CERTAIN OFFICIALS INFORMATION
Present law requires certain records or information of any state, county, municipal or other public employee or former employee, or applicant to such position, or of any law enforcement officer commissioned by governing boards of public institutions of higher education, in the possession of a governmental entity or any person in its capacity as an employer to be treated as confidential and not be open for inspection by members of the public. This bill adds the name of a law enforcement officer who is designated as working undercover to such list of confidential records or information. Further, this bill provides that any person required by law to treat such information as confidential commits a Class E felony if the person acts with criminal negligence in releasing the information to the public.
UNLAWFUL RELEASE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS INFORMATION
Present law provides that any person required by law to treat residential information for any state, county, municipal, or other public employee as confidential commits a Class B misdemeanor, punishable only by a fine of $500, if such information pertains to a law enforcement officer or a county corrections officer and the person acts with criminal negligence in releasing the information to the public. This bill removes the limitation of punishment to only a $500 fine. Generally, a Class B misdemeanor conviction may be given a term of imprisonment of not greater than six months, a fine not to exceed $500, or both. However, this bill provides that such offense does not apply if (i) the officer whose information is treated as confidential expressly authorizes the release of such information; or (ii) the information is released pursuant to court order.
UNLAWFUL RELEASE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL INFORMATION
Present law provides that all law enforcement personnel information in the possession of any entity or agency in its capacity as an employer, including officers commissioned by governing boards of public institutions of higher education, must be open for inspection, except personal information must be redacted where there is a reason not to disclose as determined by the chief law enforcement officer or the chief law enforcement officer's designee. As used in these provisions, "personal information" includes the officer's residential address, home and personal cellular telephone number; place of employment; name, work address and telephone numbers of the officer's immediate family; name, location, and telephone number of any educational institution or daycare provider where the officer's spouse or child is enrolled.
This bill provides that any person required by law to treat such information as confidential commits a Class B misdemeanor if the person acts with criminal negligence in releasing the information to the public. However, if the person knows the information is to be treated as confidential and intentionally releases the information to the public, then the person commits a Class A misdemeanor. If a person acts with criminal negligence in releasing to the public certain information that could be used to identify or to locate an officer designated as working undercover, then the person commits a Class E felony. However, these offenses do not apply if (i) the law enforcement personnel whose information is treated as confidential expressly authorizes the release of such information, or (ii) the information is released pursuant to court order.
ON MARCH 9, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 1464, AS AMENDED.
AMENDMENT #1 requires
each state governmental entity and official
to
maintain the following information relative to the operational enforcement of federal and state immigration laws as confidential, and such information is not subject to public inspection:
The name of a federal, state, or local officer, agent, or official participating in federal immigration enforcement activities in this state when the name is accompanied by contact information, a residential address, or other personal identifying information of the officer, agent, or official
.
The name of a federal, state, or local officer, agent, or official participating in federal immigration enforcement activities in this state if (i)
t
he release would endanger the safety of the individual during an active or planned enforcement operation
,
(ii)
t
he individual is currently serving in an undercover capacity
,
or (iii)
a
documented threat assessment by the supervising agency head, or a designee, demonstrates a specific, ongoing risk of harm
.
Information related to specific future immigration enforcement operational activities, such as the date and time, location, logistics, or strategies of such activities.
However, this amendment does not do any of the following:
Prevent the disclosure of information, including the name of the officer, relating to an investigation of alleged misconduct by a law enforcement officer to the extent required by law
.
Prevent a state governmental entity or official from disclosing the name of an officer, agent, or official after the conclusion of an operation if the entity or official determines that disclosure does not present a reasonable risk to the safety of the officer, agent, or official or the integrity of current or future operations
.
Require the name of an officer, agent, or official from being redacted from an affidavit, warrant, charging instrument, or other judicial record
.
This amendment provides that a
state government official who, acting with criminal negligence, releases
information
as described above commits
a Class E felony, which authorizes imprisonment
of
no less than one year nor more than six years,
and authorizes
the jury to assess a fine not to exceed $3,000.
A state government official who, acting with criminal negligence, releases
such
information
may also be subject to ouster, if applicable.
This amendment makes confidential and not subject to public inspection t
he name of a law enforcement officer who is designated as working undercover during the period of undercover assignment and for a reasonable period thereafter if the law enforcement agency determines that disclosure would present a reasonable risk to the
safety of the officer or to the integrity of current or future operations
. However, such
protection
does not apply to training or certification records maintained by the peace officer
standards and training commission.
This amendment clarifies that the bill applies to prohibited conduct occurring on or after July 1, 2026.
Current Bill Text
Read the full stored bill text
HOUSE BILL 2506
By Sexton
SENATE BILL 1464
By Johnson
SB1464
008686
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AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4;
Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 8; Title 10; Title 38;
Title 39; Title 40; Title 41 and Chapter 253 of the
Public Acts of 2021, relative to confidential
records.
WHEREAS, the General Assembly finds that maintaining confidentiality of personal
identifying information of federal, state, and local officers, agents, and officials engaged in the
enforcement of federal and State immigration laws and sensitive information related to
immigration enforcement operations in this State is paramount to the protection and safety of
such officers, agents, and officials, the integrity of such enforcement operations, and public
safety; and
WHEREAS, the confidential maintenance of such information protects such persons
from targeted harassment, threats, or violence due to their enforcement duties; prevents
disclosure of sensitive information that could compromise immigration enforcement operations;
maintains the public confidence in immigration enforcement activities by ensuring such persons
can effectively carry out their duties without fear of retaliation; and aligns with existing privacy
laws to protect federal and State law enforcement officers' and employees' personal identifying
information; now, therefore,
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 42, is amended by adding
the following new section:
(a) Notwithstanding another law to the contrary, each state governmental entity
and official shall maintain the following information relative to the operational
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enforcement of federal and state immigration laws as confidential, and such information
is not subject to public inspection:
(1) The name, contact information, address, and other personal
identifying information of each federal, state, or local officer, agent, or official
participating in federal immigration enforcement activities in this state; and
(2) Information related to specific future immigration enforcement
operational activities, such as the date and time, location, logistics, or strategies
of such activities.
(b) Subsection (a) does not:
(1) Apply to information that is public pursuant to federal law or a court
order; or
(2) Prohibit federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and
officers from sharing information necessary to facilitate the enforcement of
federal and state immigration laws.
(c) Subsection (a) preempts any policy, procedure, or rule of a state
governmental entity or official in conflict with subsection (a).
(d)
(1) A state government official who, acting with criminal negligence,
releases information in violation of subsection (a) commits a Class E felony.
(2) A state government official who, acting with criminal negligence,
releases information in violation of subsection (a) is subject to ouster under title
8, chapter 47, if applicable.
(3) As used in this subsection (d), "criminal negligence" means the same
as defined in § 39-11-106.
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(e) This section does not preclude the enforcement of other applicable criminal
and civil penalties under federal or state law.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 7, Chapter 68, is amended by adding
the following new section:
(a) Notwithstanding another law to the contrary, each local governmental entity
and official shall maintain the following information relative to the operational
enforcement of federal and state immigration laws as confidential, and such information
is not subject to public inspection:
(1) The name, contact information, address, and other personal
identifying information of each federal, state, or local officer, agent, or official
participating in federal immigration enforcement activities in this state; and
(2) Information related to specific future immigration enforcement
operational activities, such as the date and time, location, logistics, or strategies
of such activities.
(b) Subsection (a) does not:
(1) Apply to information that is public pursuant to federal law or a court
order; or
(2) Prohibit federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and
officers from sharing information necessary to facilitate the enforcement of
federal and state immigration laws.
(c) Subsection (a) preempts any policy, procedure, or rule of a local
governmental entity or official in conflict with subsection (a).
(d)
(1) A local government official who, acting with criminal negligence,
releases information in violation of subsection (a) commits a Class E felony.
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(2) A local government official who, acting with criminal negligence,
releases information in violation of subsection (a) is subject to ouster under title
8, chapter 47, if applicable.
(3) As used in this subsection (d), "criminal negligence" means the same
as defined in § 39-11-106.
(e) This section does not preclude the enforcement of other applicable criminal
and civil penalties under federal or state law.
SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 7-68-102(3), is amended by deleting
the subdivision and substituting:
(3) "Official" means an agent, employee, member, or representative of a local
governmental entity and includes the mayor of a county, incorporated city or town, and
metropolitan government; and
SECTION 4. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 8-47-101, is amended by deleting the
language "or who shall commit any act constituting a violation of any penal statute involving
moral turpitude" and substituting instead:
or who shall commit any act constituting a violation of any penal statute involving moral
turpitude, or who shall, acting with criminal negligence, unlawfully release confidential
information relative to the operational enforcement of federal and state immigration laws
SECTION 5. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 10-7-504(f)(1), is amended by adding
the following new subdivision:
(I) The name of a law enforcement officer who is designated as working
undercover.
SECTION 6. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 10-7-504(f)(9), is amended by
deleting the subdivision.
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SECTION 7. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 10-7-504(f)(8), is amended by adding
the following new subdivision (f)(8)(C) and redesignating the current subdivision (f)(8)(C) as
subdivision (f)(8)(D):
(C) Any person required by law to treat information described in subdivision
(f)(1)(I) as confidential commits an offense if the person acts with criminal negligence, as
defined in § 39-11-106, in releasing the information to the public. A violation of this
subdivision (f)(8)(C) is a Class E felony.
SECTION 8. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 10-7-504(f)(8)(B)(i), is amended by
deleting the language "punishable only by a fine of five hundred dollars ($500)".
SECTION 9. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 10-7-504(f)(8)(D), is amended by
deleting the language "Subdivision (f)(8)(A)" and substituting "This subdivision (f)(8)".
SECTION 10. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 10-7-504(g), is amended by adding
the following new subdivision (g)(6):
(A) Any person required by law to treat information described in subdivision
(g)(1) as confidential commits an offense if:
(i) The person acts with criminal negligence, as defined in § 39-11-106,
in releasing the information to the public; or
(ii) The person knows the information is to be treated as confidential and
intentionally releases the information to the public.
(B)
(i) A violation of subdivision (g)(6)(A)(i) is a Class B misdemeanor.
(ii) A violation of subdivision (g)(6)(A)(ii) is a Class A misdemeanor.
(C) Any person required by law to treat information described in subdivision
(g)(1)(A)(iii) as confidential commits an offense if the person acts with criminal
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negligence, as defined in § 39-11-106, in releasing the information to the public. A
violation of this subdivision (g)(6)(C) is a Class E felony.
(D) This subdivision (g)(6) does not apply if:
(i) The law enforcement personnel whose information is treated as
confidential under subsection (g) expressly authorizes the release of such
information; or
(ii) The information is released pursuant to court order.
SECTION 11. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.