Immigration is in the spotlight during this legislative session, with more than 40 immigration-related bills having been filed by the 114th Tennessee General Assembly as of this writing. Many of those bills aim to impose new criminal penalties or expand law enforcement powers related to immigration.
On Jan. 15, the state’s Republican leadership announced a sweeping set of bills formed in partnership with Stephen Miller, who works as President Donald Trump’s deputy chief of staff and homeland security adviser. Miller has overseen the federal government’s nationwide immigration crackdown. The proposed legislation includes: efforts to make it illegal to be in Tennessee if a final deportation order has been issued; requiring driver’s license tests to be administered only in English; prohibiting undocumented people from obtaining license plates; barring out-of-state commercial driver’s licenses for undocumented people who are driving semi-trucks; a mandatory verification of all new hires by state and local governments; proof of U.S. citizenship in order to obtain professional licenses or public benefits; and court cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, as well as reporting requirements for state government interactions with undocumented immigrants.
For their part, though vastly outnumbered in both the House and Senate and unlikely to pass much legislation of their own, the state’s Democrats are pushing back. At a press conference on Jan. 20, the Tennessee Progressive Caucus — which includes Democratic state Reps. Gloria Johnson, Shaundelle Brooks, Justin Jones, Gabby Salinas, Jason Powell and Justin Pearson — offered up a suite of bills aimed at diminishing ICE’s power in the state. Among those is House Bill 1442 — or the “Stop American Gestapo Act” — which was introduced by Jones (D-Nashville) in June and would prohibit law enforcement agents from wearing a “mask, face covering, or personal disguise while interacting with the public in the performance of the law enforcement officer’s official duties.”
Other notable law enforcement and criminal justice bills have also been filed — including the following, which aim to increase penalties for specific existing crimes.
Senate Bill 1698/House Bill 1441 would increase the penalty for criminal impersonation of a law enforcement officer if someone impersonating an officer is committing or attempting to commit a violent crime.
HB 1444/SB 1475 would increase the penalty for aggravated cruelty to animals, and add that offense as one that could see a juvenile defendant classified as a serious youthful offender by a court.
SB 1660 would increase the penalty for committing arson at a “pregnancy resource center.” A pregnancy resource center is defined as a “nonprofit organization that provides care and resources to assist women and families facing difficult or unexpected pregnancies, including providing counseling, financial assistance, food, clothing, and medical assistance to pregnant women and reimbursing social service providers who prepare adoptions throughout the state for services and programs targeting at-risk women and families with immediate and ongoing needs related to unexpected pregnancy.”
HB 1521/SB 1736 would increase the penalty for leaving the scene of a fatal traffic accident.
HB 1455/SB 1493 attempts to tackle a growing issue with artificial intelligence programs and self-harm by making it a class-A felony to “knowingly [train] artificial intelligence to encourage the act of suicide or criminal homicide, or act in specific manners, including developing an emotional relationship with an individual or simulating a human being, including in appearance, voice, or other mannerisms.”
SB 1588/HB 1504 would create the “Capitol Hill protection zone around the state Capitol grounds and surrounding state government buildings, including the grounds and roads immediately surrounding such buildings,” and would see an increase in the presence of law enforcement officers in and around the Capitol. In a Jan. 15 press conference, bill sponsor and House Majority Leader William Lamberth insisted that the proposal has nothing to do with countering protesters who frequent Capitol Hill.
HB 2036, introduced by Rep. Johnny Garrett (R-Goodlettsville), would prohibit anyone who is not a natural-born citizen of the United States or who holds a dual citizenship from qualifying as a candidate in a primary election for federal office in Tennessee. Garrett argues in a press release that “being born in the United States should be a basic qualification” to holding federal office, and that this “ensures Tennessee is represented by leaders with an unquestioned allegiance to our nation."
From immigration enforcement to voucher expansion, the Republican supermajority is pushing for Tennessee to be the nation’s conservative leader
