SENATE BILL 6002
By Johnson
HOUSE BILL 6001
By Lamberth
HB6001
002006
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AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2;
Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 8 and Title 55,
relative to non-United States citizens.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 3, Part 20, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
(a) There is created within the department of safety the centralized immigration
enforcement division.
(b) The chief executive of the division is the chief immigration enforcement
officer, to be appointed by the governor, whose duties include:
(1) Overseeing state and local collaboration with federal immigration
agencies;
(2) Facilitating efficient communication between state, local, and federal
agencies with respect to immigration policy and enforcement;
(3) Allocating resources, including the approval and distribution of grants
from the immigration enforcement grant fund created pursuant to SECTION 5;
(4) Developing strategic immigration enforcement plans;
(5) Coordinating participation in federal immigration programs, including
the 287(g) program pursuant to the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. §
1357(g));
(6) Ensuring state and local compliance with federal and state
immigration laws;
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(7) Reporting annually to the governor and general assembly on
immigration-related progress and challenges. Such report is due not later than
January 31, 2026, and each January 31 thereafter; and
(8) Coordinating the direction of state funding to help state and local law
enforcement implement federal immigration law.
(c) The commissioner of safety may hire staff within the resources allocated to
the department of safety and may establish their duties and responsibilities.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 4-3-2015(a), is amended by deleting
the subsection and substituting:
(a) The commissioner of safety, in consultation with the chief immigration
enforcement officer, shall attempt to enter into the terms of an agreement between the
state of Tennessee and the United States attorney general concerning the enforcement
of federal immigration laws, detention and removals, and investigations in this state
under the 287(g) program pursuant to the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. §
1357(g)).
SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 4-42-103, is amended by designating
the existing language as subsection (a) and adding the following new subsection (b):
(b) It is unlawful for an official to violate subsection (a). A violation of subsection
(a) is a Class E felony.
SECTION 4. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 4-42-104, is amended by adding the
following new subsection (f):
(f) Upon the failure of an official to comply with an order in accordance with
subsection (d), and the official's subsequent conviction pursuant to § 4-42-103(b), the
attorney general and reporter shall initiate an action to remove the official from office
pursuant to title 8, chapter 47, as soon as practicable.
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SECTION 5. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 7, Chapter 68, is amended by adding
the following new section:
(a) Subject to specific appropriation of funds by the general assembly, there is
created an immigration enforcement grant program to incentivize local governments to
enter into agreements between the respective local government and the United States
attorney general under the 287(g) program pursuant to the Immigration and Nationality
Act (8 U.S.C. § 1357(g)) concerning the enforcement of federal immigration laws,
detentions and removals, and investigations in this state. Funds received for the grant
program must be deposited into a special account in the state treasury to be known as
the immigration enforcement fund, hereinafter known as the "fund."
(b) The grant program and grants approved under the program are to be
administered by the chief immigration enforcement officer (CIEO) appointed pursuant to
SECTION 1 and distributed from the fund.
(c) To qualify for and receive a grant from the fund, a local government must
have a valid, executed agreement between the local government and the United States
attorney general under the 287(g) program pursuant to the Immigration and Nationality
Act (8 U.S.C. § 1357(g)) and must:
(1) Submit an application to the centralized immigration enforcement
division created pursuant to SECTION 1, including a copy of such agreement;
and
(2) Execute a contract with the division on terms specified by the division,
including the right of the division to claw back any remaining grant funding in
accordance with subsection (h).
(d) The CIEO:
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(1) Shall develop the grant application and determine any additional
information to be included with the application's submission, including the
proposed use of the grant funds consistent with this section;
(2) Shall not issue more than one (1) grant under the grant program to a
local government; and
(3) Shall establish grant eligibility criteria that prioritize local governments
that demonstrate a strong commitment to enforcing federal immigration laws.
(e) Grants under the grant program may be issued for the following purposes:
(1) To fund training, operational expenses, and other resource needs for
local governments participating in immigration enforcement efforts;
(2) To fund investments into or purchases of law enforcement equipment
to be used in the enforcement of immigration laws; and
(3) To fund other immigration enforcement activities and programs as
deemed appropriate by policies prescribed by the CIEO.
(f) A local government that receives a grant under the grant program shall
submit quarterly reports to the centralized immigration enforcement division no later than
thirty (30) days after the end of the quarter in which the local government receives the
grant, and for each quarter thereafter until all grant funding has been expended by the
local government. Each report must specify:
(1) The manner in which grant funds were expended, including an
itemization of expenditures;
(2) The remaining balance of grant funds, if any, and the proposed use of
such funds;
(3) The documented or projected impact of the grant funds in enforcing
federal and state immigration laws;
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(4) Statistics relative to an increase or decrease in crime from illegal
aliens within the jurisdiction of the local government, if any; and
(5) Whether the amount of the grant was sufficient to meet the stated
goals of the local government upon applying for the grant.
(g) The CIEO may require a local government that has been issued a grant
under the grant program to provide an accounting of the grant funds at any time after
issuance of the grant.
(h) Subsequent to a quarterly report filed under subsection (f) or an accounting
required under subsection (g), upon a finding by the division or the CIEO that grant
funds have been misused or misappropriated by a local government, that the local
government has failed to demonstrate meaningful steps toward supporting federal
immigration laws or the immigration policies of this state, or that the local government
has otherwise failed to fulfill any commitment made as a condition of receiving the grant,
including the expiration, cancellation, or invalidation of the agreement between the local
government required for grant funding under SECTION 5(c), the CIEO shall require the
local government to remit all remaining grant funds back to the department of safety for
deposit into the grant program fund.
(i)
(1) In addition to appropriations made to the fund, the department of
safety may accept other funds by way of grant to the fund. Any such grant must
be deposited into the fund to be distributed in accordance with this section.
(2) Moneys in the fund may be invested by the state treasurer in
accordance with § 9-4-602.
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(3) Interest accruing on investments and deposits of the fund must be
credited to the fund, shall not revert to the general fund, and must be carried
forward into the subsequent fiscal year.
(4) Any balance remaining unexpended at the end of a fiscal year in the
fund does not revert to the general fund but must be carried forward into the
subsequent fiscal year.
SECTION 6. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 7-68-103, is amended by designating
the existing language as subsection (a) and adding the following new subsection (b):
(b) It is unlawful for an official to violate subsection (a). A violation of subsection
(a) is a Class E felony. For purposes of this subsection (b), each official who, in their
capacity as a member of the governing body of a local government, votes in the
affirmative to adopt a sanctuary policy is in violation of this section.
SECTION 7. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 7-68-104, is amended by adding the
following new subsection (e):
(e) Upon the failure of an official to comply with an order in accordance with
subsection (d), and the official's subsequent conviction pursuant to § 7-68-103(b), the
attorney general and reporter shall initiate an action to remove the official from office
pursuant to title 8, chapter 47, as soon as practicable.
SECTION 8. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 7-68-105(c)(1), is amended by
deleting the language "governor," and substituting "governor, chief immigration enforcement
officer appointed pursuant to SECTION 1,".
SECTION 9. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 2-7-112(c)(1), is amended by adding
the language "that is not a temporary driver license" immediately after the language "Tennessee
driver license".
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SECTION 10. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-50-303(a)(9), is amended by
deleting the following language:
To any person who is not a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident of
the United States.
and substituting instead the following:
To any person who is not a United States citizen.
SECTION 11. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-50-321(c)(1)(C), is amended by
deleting the subdivision and substituting instead the following:
(C) Any applicant applying for a driver license, instruction permit, intermediate
driver license, or photo identification license, upon initial issuance or reinstatement, shall
provide either an original or certified copy of documentation that the applicant is a citizen
of the United States.
SECTION 12. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-50-321(i)(1), is amended by
deleting the subdivision and substituting instead the following:
(1) Any person presenting a driver license from a state that issues driver
licenses to illegal aliens for the purposes of obtaining a Tennessee driver license is
required to establish proof of United States citizenship, or, in the case of a temporary
driver license, either lawful permanent resident status or a specified period of authorized
stay in the United States.
SECTION 13. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-50-331(g), is amended by
deleting the subsection and substituting instead the following:
(1) Notwithstanding another law to the contrary, the department may issue a
temporary driver license, temporary intermediate driver license, temporary photo
identification license, or temporary learner permit to lawful permanent residents of the
United States or to persons whose presence in the United States has been authorized
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by the federal government for a specific purpose and for a specified period of authorized
stay. A temporary license or permit shall not be used and must not be accepted as valid
identification where eligibility for a right or benefit is exclusive to United States citizens,
including, but not limited to, voting.
(2) The temporary driver license or photo identification license is valid only
during the period of time of the applicant's authorized stay in the United States or the
valid period of the applicant's lawful permanent resident card; provided, however, that a
temporary driver license or photo identification license must not be issued for a period
longer than eight (8) years.
(3) A temporary driver license, temporary photo identification license, or
temporary permit must include a visually distinctive marker for the class designation on
the face of the license to distinguish the temporary license from the license issued to
United States citizens under § 55-50-303(a)(9) that are used as a photo identification for
voting purposes.
(4) A lawful permanent resident who renews or reinstates a driver license,
permit, or photo identification license on or after January 1, 2026, must provide proof of
United States citizenship to maintain the driver license, permit, or photo identification
license. If such proof of citizenship is not provided, then the person must be issued a
temporary driver license, temporary permit, or temporary photo identification license
pursuant to this section.
(5) A person who becomes a United States citizen may provide proof of such
citizenship to the department at any time to receive a license under § 55-50-303(a)(9).
SECTION 14. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-50-102(56), is amended by
adding the language "except for an individual who is a lawful permanent resident," immediately
before the language "if there is no definite end".
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SECTION 15. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance
is held invalid, then the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of the act that
can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to that end, the provisions of
this act are severable.
SECTION 16. For purposes of promulgating rules and forms, redesigning licenses and
permits, if applicable, and carrying out administrative duties necessary to effectuate this act, this
act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it. For all other purposes:
(1) Sections 1-8 and Section 15 of this act take effect July 1, 2025, the public
welfare requiring it; and
(2) Sections 9-14 of this act take effect January 1, 2026, the public welfare
requiring it.