Bill
Bill > HB1704
TN HB1704
TN HB1704AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 7; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40 and Title 41, relative to immigration.
summary
Introduced
01/15/2026
01/15/2026
In Committee
03/11/2026
03/11/2026
Crossed Over
03/17/2026
03/17/2026
Passed
04/21/2026
04/21/2026
Dead
Signed/Enacted/Adopted
04/27/2026
04/27/2026
Introduced Session
114th General Assembly
Bill Summary
As enacted, creates the Class A misdemeanor of intentionally failing or refusing to depart when a final order of removal is outstanding; creates the Class A misdemeanor of intentionally entering, attempting to enter, or being found in this state after being denied admission, excluded, deported, or removed from the United States. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 7; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40 and Title 41.
AI Summary
This bill creates two new criminal offenses in Tennessee, both classified as Class A misdemeanors, which carry a penalty of up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $2,500. The first offense targets individuals who are aliens, meaning they are not U.S. citizens, and have a final order of removal outstanding, which is a federal government directive for them to leave the United States. If such an individual intentionally remains in Tennessee for more than 90 days after this order, or after any judicial review of the order is finalized, they commit this offense. The second offense applies to aliens who have previously been denied admission to, excluded from, deported from, or removed from the United States, or who left the U.S. while such an order was in place. If these individuals then intentionally enter or attempt to enter Tennessee without express consent from the U.S. Attorney General, they commit this offense, unless federal law specifically exempts them from needing such consent. In both cases, criminal proceedings will be paused if the individual is still pursuing legal challenges to their federal immigration status, ensuring they can exhaust all federal appeals before facing state criminal charges. The second offense will only take effect if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns or modifies its ruling in *Arizona v. United States*, which limited states' ability to enforce immigration laws, or if federal law is changed to allow states to determine unlawful presence. All other provisions of the bill become effective on July 1, 2026.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (63)
William Lamberth (R)*,
Becky Jo Alexander (R),
Fred Atchley (R),
Clark Boyd (R),
Rush Bricken (R),
Gino Bulso (R),
Ed Butler (R),
Kip Capley (R),
Michele Carringer (R),
Scott Cepicky (R),
Mark Cochran (R),
John Crawford (R),
Tandy Darby (R),
Elaine Davis (R),
Clay Doggett (R),
Rick Eldridge (R),
Andrew Farmer (R),
Monty Fritts (R),
Ron Gant (R),
Johnny Garrett (R),
Rusty Grills (R),
Michael Hale (R),
Kirk Haston (R),
David Hawk (R),
Esther Helton (R),
Gary Hicks (R),
Tim Hicks (R),
Timothy Hill (R),
Dan Howell (R),
Renea Jones (R),
Kelly Keisling (R),
Doc Kumar (R),
Justin Lafferty (R),
Michael Lankford (R),
Tom Leatherwood (R),
Mary Littleton (R),
Aron Maberry (R),
Pat Marsh (R),
Brock Martin (R),
Greg Martin (R),
Jake McCalmon (R),
Debra Moody (R),
Jerome Moon (R),
Dennis Powers (R),
Kevin Raper (R),
Jay Reedy (R),
Lee Reeves (R),
Michele Reneau (R),
Tim Rudd (R),
Iris Rudder (R),
Richard Scarbrough (R),
Cameron Sexton (R),
Paul Sherrell (R),
William Slater (R),
Robert Stevens (R),
Tom Stinnett (R),
Bryan Terry (R),
Chris Todd (R),
Kevin Vaughan (R),
Todd Warner (R),
Mark White (R),
Dave Wright (R),
Jason Zachary (R),
Last Action
Effective date(s) 07/01/2026 (on 04/27/2026)
Bill Topics
Immigration
- ‐ Immigration Regulation and Control
Law, Crime, and Family Issues
- ‐ Illegal Immigration and Border Security Crime
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location | Created |
|---|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/default.aspx?BillNumber=HB1704&ga=114 | 01/15/2026 |
| BillText | https://publications.tnsosfiles.com/acts/114/pub/pc0771.pdf | 04/27/2026 |
| Amendment 1-0 to HB1704 | https://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/114/Amend/HA0650.pdf | 03/11/2026 |
| Fiscal Memo for HA0650 (13082) | https://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/114/Fiscal/FM1534.pdf | 03/11/2026 |
| Fiscal Note - HB1704 | https://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/114/Fiscal/HB1704.pdf | 02/08/2026 |
| BillText | https://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/114/Bill/HB1704.pdf | 01/15/2026 |
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