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Bill > HB1706
TN HB1706
TN HB1706AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 55, Chapter 50, relative to unlawful presence in the United States.
summary
Introduced
01/15/2026
01/15/2026
In Committee
02/17/2026
02/17/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
114th General Assembly
Bill Summary
As introduced, creates a Class A misdemeanor for a person who is unlawfully present in the United States to operate a commercial motor vehicle in this state; requires the law enforcement agency of an officer who arrests a person who is unlawfully present in the United States to operate a commercial motor vehicle in this state to ensure that federal immigration authorities are notified; creates related civil actions that may be pursued by the attorney general and reporter or by a qui tam plaintiff. - Amends TCA Title 55, Chapter 50.
AI Summary
This bill makes it a Class A misdemeanor, a serious but less severe criminal offense, for any person unlawfully present in the United States to operate a commercial motor vehicle in Tennessee, and also prohibits employers from knowingly allowing such individuals to drive these vehicles. If a law enforcement officer arrests someone for this offense, their agency must notify federal immigration authorities, potentially through a program called 287(g) which allows local law enforcement to assist federal immigration enforcement, or by contacting the state's centralized immigration enforcement division. Furthermore, the bill establishes strict liability for employers and state officials who knowingly allow or issue commercial driver licenses to individuals unlawfully present in the U.S. if those individuals cause accidents, allowing injured parties to sue for significant damages, including at least $1 million in punitive damages. The Attorney General and Reporter, Tennessee's chief legal officer, is also empowered to sue such employers and state officials for civil penalties of at least $1 million, and private citizens can initiate these lawsuits on behalf of the state, known as "qui tam" actions, potentially receiving a portion of any recovered penalties.
Committee Categories
Transportation and Infrastructure
Sponsors (62)
Jason Zachary (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),
Jeremy Faison (R),
Andrew Farmer (R),
Monty Fritts (R),
Ron Gant (R),
Johnny Garrett (R),
Rusty Grills (R),
Michael Hale (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),
William Lamberth (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),
Lee Reeves (R),
Tim Rudd (R),
Iris Rudder (R),
Lowell Russell (R),
Richard Scarbrough (R),
Cameron Sexton (R),
Paul Sherrell (R),
William Slater (R),
Robert Stevens (R),
Tom Stinnett (R),
Chris Todd (R),
Kevin Vaughan (R),
Greg Vital (R),
Todd Warner (R),
Mark White (R),
Dave Wright (R),
Last Action
Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Transportation Committee (on 02/17/2026)
bill text
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/default.aspx?BillNumber=HB1706&ga=114 |
| Fiscal Note - SB1587 | https://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/114/Fiscal/SB1587.pdf |
| BillText | https://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/114/Bill/HB1706.pdf |
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