Tennessee House passes bill requiring immigration checks in public schools

By: Anita Wadhwani

Outlets: Tennessee Lookout

Published: March 17, 2026

Words: 752

Last Updated: 4 days, 12 hours ago

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Legislation to require Tennessee public schools to check student immigration status and report it to the state education department moved one significant step closer to becoming law after passage Monday in the GOP-dominated House of Representatives.

The bill (HB073/SB0836) by House Majority Leader William Lamberth, a Portland Republican, and Sen. Bo Watson, a Hixson Republican, drew heated pushback from Democrats on the House floor, who unsuccessfully offered a series of amendments that included “opt …

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