SB2497 • 2026

Immigration

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 33; Title 38; Title 52; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71, relative to the bureau of immigration and customs enforcement.

Healthcare Housing

Active

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

Sponsor: Kyle, Johnson
Last action: 2026-03-24
Official status: Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate State and Local Government Committee
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Tennessee Act to Restrict ICE Activities

This bill prohibits the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from entering healthcare facilities, physician's offices, and shelters in Tennessee.

What This Bill Does

Makes it illegal for ICE to enter or conduct law enforcement activities in healthcare facilities, physician's offices, and shelters located in Tennessee.

Who It Names or Affects

People working for ICE
Patients and staff at hospitals, clinics, and other medical care facilities
Homeless individuals staying in shelters
Victims of domestic violence seeking help from shelters

Terms To Know

Healthcare facility: A place that provides medical care to people who are sick or injured.
Physician's office: The workplace of a doctor where they see patients and provide healthcare services.
Shelter: A place that offers temporary housing for people in need, such as those who are homeless or victims of domestic violence.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what happens if ICE violates these rules.
It is unclear how this law will be enforced and monitored by the state.

Bill History

2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly
Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate State and Local Government Committee
2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/24/2026
2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly
Action deferred in Senate State and Local Government Committee to 3/24/2026
2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly
Failed in s/c Departments & Agencies Subcommittee of State & Local Government Committee
2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/17/2026
2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Departments & Agencies Subcommittee for 3/17/2026
2026-03-02 Tennessee General Assembly
Sponsor(s) Added.
2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate State and Local Government Committee
2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly
Assigned to s/c Departments & Agencies Subcommittee
2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly
P2C, ref. to State & Local Government Committee
2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly
Intro., P1C.
2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly
Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction
2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HOUSE BILL 2249
By Johnson

SENATE BILL 2497
By Kyle
SB2497
011893
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4;
Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 33; Title 38; Title 52;
Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71, relative to the
bureau of immigration and customs enforcement.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 38, Chapter 3, Part 1, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
(a) As used in this section:
(1) "Healthcare facility":
(A) Means an institution, place, building, or agency represented
and held out to the general public as ready, willing, and able to furnish
care, accommodations, facilities, and equipment for the use, in
connection with the services of a physician or dentist, of one (1) or more
nonrelated persons who may be suffering from deformity, injury, or
disease or from any other condition for which nursing, medical, or surgical
services would be appropriate for care, diagnosis, or treatment; and
(B) Does include a hospital or institution, operated by the
department of mental health and substance abuse services or the
department of disability and aging, specifically intended for use in the
diagnosis, care, and treatment of those suffering from mental illness,
intellectual disabilities, convulsive disorders, or other abnormal mental
conditions;
(2) "Physician" means a person licensed to practice medicine pursuant to
title 63, chapter 6, or osteopathic medicine pursuant to title 63, chapter 9; and

- 2 - 011893

(3) "Shelter" includes:
(A) A public or private nonprofit facility that provides temporary
housing and related services to persons experiencing homelessness; and
(B) A public or private nonprofit facility that provides temporary
housing and related services to persons who have experienced domestic
violence.
(b) The bureau of immigration and customs enforcement of the United States
department of homeland security is prohibited from entering into and conducting law
enforcement activities in a healthcare facility, physician's office, or a shelter located in
this state.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.