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SB2223 • 2026

Immigration

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 7; Title 8; Title 16; Title 17; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40 and Title 41, relative to immigration.

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Johnson, Garrett
Last action
2026-05-26
Official status
Comp. became Pub. Ch. 1015
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Immigration

ON APRIL 20, 2026, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #2 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 2219, AS AMENDED.

What This Bill Does

  • ON APRIL 20, 2026, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #2 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 2219, AS AMENDED.
  • AMENDMENT #2 rewrites the bill to, instead, require the sheriff of each county to enter into an agreement under an available federal 287(g) program, and expands the powers of the board of control of the Tennessee corrections institute.
  • FEDERAL 287(G) PROGRAM This amendment requires, by January 1, 2027, the sheriff of each county to enter into an agreement under an available federal 287(g) program pursuant to federal law with the appropriate federal official, concerning the enforcement of federal immigration law.
  • An agreement is not subject to approval from the governing body of the local government that the sheriff serves.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

Amendment 1-0 to HB2219

Plain English: House State & Local Government 1 Amendment No.

  • House State & Local Government 1 Amendment No.
  • 1 to HB2219 Crawford Signature of Sponsor AMEND Senate Bill No.
  • 2223* House Bill No.
  • 2219 HA0670 015240 - 1 - by deleting all language after the enacting clause and substituting: SECTION 1.
Amendment 2-0 to HB2219

Plain English: House State & Local Government 2 Amendment No.

  • House State & Local Government 2 Amendment No.
  • 2 to HB2219 Crawford Signature of Sponsor AMEND Senate Bill No.
  • 2223* House Bill No.
  • 2219 HA1032 016808 - 1 - by deleting all language after the enacting clause and substituting: SECTION 1.
Amendment 3-0 to HB2219

Plain English: Amendment No.

  • Amendment No.
  • 3 to HB2219 Jones J Signature of Sponsor AMEND Senate Bill No.
  • 2223* House Bill No.
  • 2219 HA1222 018371 - 1 - by deleting the language "must enter" in subdivision (b)(1)(A) in Section 1 and substituting instead "may enter".
Amendment 4-0 to HB2219

Plain English: Amendment No.

  • Amendment No.
  • 4 to HB2219 Salinas Signature of Sponsor AMEND Senate Bill No.
  • 2223* House Bill No.
  • 2219 HA1224 018417 - 1 - by adding the following section as a new SECTION 1 and redesignating remaining sections accordingly: SECTION 1.
Amendment 5-0 to HB2219

Plain English: Amendment No.

  • Amendment No.
  • 5 to HB2219 Salinas Signature of Sponsor AMEND Senate Bill No.
  • 2223* House Bill No.
  • 2219 HA1237 018418 - 1 - by adding the following as a new subdivision in Section 1: (5) On or before January 31, 2027, and each January 31 thereafter, the sheriff of each county shall submit a report to the mayor and legislative body of the sheriff's county, the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the speaker of the senate.
Amendment 1-0 to SB2223

Plain English: Senate State and Local Government 1 Amendment No.

  • Senate State and Local Government 1 Amendment No.
  • 1 to SB2223 Briggs Signature of Sponsor AMEND Senate Bill No.
  • 2223* House Bill No.
  • 2219 SA0874 015702 - 1 - by deleting all language after the enacting clause and substituting: SECTION 1.
Amendment 2-0 to SB2223

Plain English: Senate Finance, Ways, and Means 1 Amendment No.

  • Senate Finance, Ways, and Means 1 Amendment No.
  • 2 to SB2223 Watson Signature of Sponsor AMEND Senate Bill No.
  • 2223* House Bill No.
  • 2219 SA1077 016808 - 1 - by deleting all language after the enacting clause and substituting: SECTION 1.
Amendment 3-0 to SB2223

Plain English: Amendment No.

  • Amendment No.
  • 3 to SB2223 Yarbro Signature of Sponsor AMEND Senate Bill No.
  • 2223* House Bill No.
  • 2219 SA1110 016779 - 1 - by adding the following new subdivision in Section 1: (5) This state shall reimburse each county that enters into an agreement under this subsection (b) for costs and liabilities incurred in implementing this subsection (b) and in enforcing federal law pursuant to this subsection (b).

Bill History

  1. 2026-05-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. became Pub. Ch. 1015

  2. 2026-05-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Effective date(s) 05/19/2026

  3. 2026-05-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Pub. Ch. 1015

  4. 2026-05-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Governor.

  5. 2026-05-07 Tennessee General Assembly

    Transmitted to Governor for his action.

  6. 2026-05-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Senate Speaker

  7. 2026-04-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by H. Speaker

  8. 2026-04-29 Tennessee General Assembly

    Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.

  9. 2026-04-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  10. 2026-04-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Companion House Bill substituted

  11. 2026-04-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate, Ayes 24, Nays 7

  12. 2026-04-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Amendment tabled (Amendment 3 - SA1110)

  13. 2026-04-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 2 - SA1077)

  14. 2026-04-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - SA0874)

  15. 2026-04-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.

  16. 2026-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/23/2026

  17. 2026-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate Reset on calendar for 4/23/2026

  18. 2026-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/22/2026

  19. 2026-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 9, Nays 2 PNV 0

  20. 2026-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Received from House, Passed on First Consideration

  21. 2026-04-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/21/2026

  22. 2026-04-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/21/2026

  23. 2026-04-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee to 4/21/2026

  24. 2026-04-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.

  25. 2026-04-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  26. 2026-04-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed H., as am., Ayes 71, Nays 25, PNV 0

  27. 2026-04-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Failed to adopt am (Amendment 3 - HA1222), Ayes 22, Nays 72, PNV 0

  28. 2026-04-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. adopted am. (Amendment 2 - HA1032)

  29. 2026-04-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA0670)

  30. 2026-04-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/20/2026

  31. 2026-04-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/20/2026

  32. 2026-04-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  33. 2026-04-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/16/2026

  34. 2026-04-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee

  35. 2026-04-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Finance, Ways, and Means Committee for 4/15/2026

  36. 2026-04-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

  37. 2026-04-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/15/2026

  38. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2026

  39. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed behind the budget

  40. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/8/2026

  41. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee

  42. 2026-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

  43. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee Ayes 6, Nays 3 PNV 0

  44. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/25/2026

  45. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/31/2026

  46. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 3/31/2026

  47. 2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/25/2026

  48. 2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate State and Local Government Committee to 3/25/2026

  49. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/24/2026

  50. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/24/2026

  51. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 3/24/2026

  52. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate State and Local Government Committee to 3/24/2026

  53. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  54. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/18/2026

  55. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 3/18/2026

  56. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/11/2026

  57. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 3/11/2026

  58. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/4/2026

  59. 2026-02-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to State & Local Government Committee

  60. 2026-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Departments & Agencies Subcommittee for 2/17/2026

  61. 2026-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Departments & Agencies Subcommittee

  62. 2026-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Ref. to State & Local Government Committee

  63. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  64. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, caption bill, held on desk - pending amdt.

  65. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  66. 2026-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  67. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  68. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  69. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

ON APRIL
20, 2026, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #2 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 2219, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #2 rewrites the bill to, instead, require the sheriff of each county to enter into an agreement under an available federal 287(g) program, and expands the powers of the board of control of the Tennessee corrections institute.

FEDERAL 287(G) PROGRAM

This amendment requires, by January 1, 2027, the sheriff of each county to enter into an agreement under an available federal 287(g) program pursuant to federal law with the appropriate federal official, concerning the enforcement of federal immigration
law. An agreement is not subject to approval from the governing body of the local government that the sheriff serves. For purposes of this amendment, "an available federal 287(g) program" must be one of the following programs:



Jail enforcement model.


Warrant service officer model.


Task force model.


Tribal task force model.

This amendment provides that a violation may result in the state withholding all funds of the state allotted to the sheriff's office or to the local government for use by the sheriff's office via grant, contract, or statute, including state-shared taxes.

This amendment authorizes a sheriff's office to temporarily suspend compliance with a memorandum of agreement executed if an emergency arises that requires the sheriff's office to redirect deputy sheriffs and resources to respond to the emergency due to
a legitimate threat to the public safety and welfare. If a sheriff's office temporarily suspends compliance with the memorandum of agreement, then the sheriff must provide notice as soon as practicable to the chief immigration enforcement officer and the
c
ommissioner of safety. This only applies to a sheriff who is POST-certified.

This amendment authorizes a law enforcement agency other than a sheriff's department to negotiate the terms of an agreement between the law enforcement agency and the appropriate federal official under federal law, concerning the enforcement of federal i
mmigration law. An agreement under this amendment is not subject to approval from the governing body of the local government that the agency serves. Any memorandum of agreement negotiated must:



Be entered into in accordance with federal law.


Require that each officer employed by the law enforcement agency be trained in accordance with the memorandum of agreement between the law enforcement agency and the appropriate federal official concerning the law enforcement officer's role in enforcing federal immigration law.


Allow for the enforcement of federal immigration law to the full extent permitted under federal law.

This amendment provides that notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, any reporting required by this state regarding immigration that involves data from a law enforcement agency must be disaggregated by the reporting law enforcement agency s
uch that the data can be specifically traced to each individual law enforcement agency required to report.

The requirement for the sheriff of each county to enter into an agreement under an available federal 287(g) program does not apply to a constable.

POWERS OF THE BOARD OF CONTROL OF TENNESSEE CORRECTIONS INSTITUTE

Th
is
amendment requires the board to adopt a policy by rule for the temporary detention and custody of detainees pending transfer. The policy must:



Apply only to detainees who are to be transferred into the custody of the bureau of immigration and customs enforcement (ICE) of the United States department of homeland security no later than 48 hours, excluding weekends and holidays, after the period during which the detainee remains in the lawful custody of a sheriff's department.


Authorize the exclusion of detainees from the inmate population computation at the facility where the detainee is held for purposes of compliance with applicable detention standards, including facility capacity limits and inmate ratios.


Be reviewed and reapproved by the board on an annual basis.

Th
is
amendment requires the sheriff charged with custody of a detainee to whom the policy adopted applies to maintain available verifiable documentation substantiating the scheduled transfer date of the detainee to ICE custody. The documentation must be made
available for review upon request during any inspection, audit, or compliance monitoring conducted by the board or other governmental entity with jurisdiction to oversee, inspect, or audit the facility.

TERMINATION

Th
is
amendment terminates the provisions pertaining to the powers of the board within this amendment on February 1, 2029.

Th
is
amendment terminates the provisions pertaining to the sheriff of each county being required to enter into an agreement under an available federal 287(g) program on February 1, 2029
.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 2219
By Garrett

SENATE BILL 2223
By Johnson
SB2223
012311
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4;
Title 7; Title 8; Title 16; Title 17; Title 38; Title 39;
Title 40 and Title 41, relative to immigration.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 7-68-104(d), is amended by deleting
the language "less than ninety (90) days nor".
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.