SB 17 – HB 1202
FISCAL NOTE
Fiscal Review Committee
Tennessee General Assembly
March 13, 2025
Fiscal Analyst: Natalie Dusek | Email: natalie.dusek@capitol.tn.gov | Phone: 615-741-2564
SB 17 – HB 1202
SUMMARY OF BILL: Narrows the requirement that law enforcement agencies (LEA) and
officials must communicate with the appropriate federal officials regarding the immigration status of
any individual, including reporting knowledge that a particular alien is not lawfully present in the
United States, to only those individuals who have been arrested for a criminal offense. Provides
exceptions to this requirement for a school resource officer in regard to students of the local
education agency to which the officer is assigned, and any individual whose contact with law
enforcement is due to the individual’s status as a victim of or witness to a crime. Establishes a civil
penalty of up to $1,000 for LEAs and officials who do not comply. Authorizes the Attorney
General (AG) to bring action to enforce such penalty.
FISCAL IMPACT:
NOT SIGNIFICANT
Assumptions:
• Pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. § 7-68-105, all LEAs and officials shall, in accordance with 8
U.S.C 1357(g)(10), communicate with the appropriate federal official regarding the
immigration status of any individual, including reporting knowledge that an individual is not
lawfully present in the United States, or otherwise cooperate with the appropriate federal
official in the identification, apprehension, detention, or removal of aliens not lawfully
present.
• The proposed legislation specifies that LEAs are only required to communicate with federal
officials regarding the immigration status of individuals who have been arrested for criminal
offenses, and that such requirements do not apply to school resource officers with regard to
the immigration status of a student, or an individual who has not been arrested by the LEA,
but may be a victim of or witness to a crime.
• The proposed legislation additionally establishes a civil penalty of up to $1,000 for LEAs
that do not comply with the communication requirement, and authorizes the AG to bring
action to enforce the civil penalty.
• Based on information provided by the Tennessee Sheriffs Association and the Tennessee
Association of Chiefs of Police, LEAs can communicate with the appropriate federal
officials and report any necessary information within existing resources.
• It is assumed that the AG can enforce any civil penalties within existing resources; however,
there is not expected to be a significant increase in civil penalties assessed as a result of the
proposed legislation.
• Any impact to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Safety, and the
Department of Education is estimated to be not significant.
SB 17 – HB 1202 2
CERTIFICATION:
The information contained herein is true and correct to the best of my knowledge.
Bojan Savic, Executive Director