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TN HB1710

TN HB1710
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 1 and Title 4, Chapter 58, relative to public benefits.


summary

Introduced
01/15/2026
In Committee
04/15/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
05/27/2026
Dead
Signed/Enacted/Adopted
05/27/2026

Introduced Session

114th General Assembly

Bill Summary

As enacted, adds local governments to the entities that must verify that each applicant for public benefits is a United States citizen or lawfully present in the United States; authorizes certain investigations of violations of requirements for verification of citizenship or presence for public benefits; requires certain reporting related to such verification for benefits; makes other related changes. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 1 and Title 4, Chapter 58.

AI Summary

This bill expands the requirement for verifying the citizenship or lawful presence of individuals applying for public benefits to include local governments, such as counties and cities, in addition to state agencies and local health departments. It clarifies that certain benefits, like those listed in federal law (8 U.S.C. § 1621(b)) and privileges granted through interstate professional licensure compacts, are not subject to this verification. The bill also authorizes the Attorney General and Reporter to investigate violations by local governments and health departments, and to withhold state funds if non-compliance is found. Furthermore, it mandates that these entities report individuals who are not lawfully present in the United States and are receiving public benefits to the state's centralized immigration enforcement division, with penalties for intentional failure to report, and establishes reporting requirements for such verification processes. The Department of Children's Services is exempted from providing information that could identify children or families receiving services. The bill takes effect immediately for administrative duties and fully on July 1, 2026, for other purposes.

Committee Categories

Budget and Finance, Government Affairs

Sponsors (65)

Dennis Powers (R)* Becky Jo Alexander (R),  Fred Atchley (R),  Jody Barrett (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),  Kevin Raper (R),  Jay Reedy (R),  Lee Reeves (R),  Michele Reneau (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),  Bryan Terry (R),  Chris Todd (R),  Kevin Vaughan (R),  Todd Warner (R),  Mark White (R),  Dave Wright (R),  Jason Zachary (R), 

Last Action

Comp. became Pub. Ch. 1106 (on 05/27/2026)

Bill Topics

Government Operations
  • ‐ Intergovernmental Relations
Immigration
  • ‐ Immigration Regulation and Control

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