Tennessee House passes immigration package after heated floor debate

NASHVILLE — The Tennessee House of Representatives passed H.B. 1704 on third and final consideration on March 18 after an extended, contentious floor debate that split members along policy and procedural lines.

Leader Blair Lambert, the bill’s sponsor, described the measure as a package of immigration‑related provisions meant to give the state aggregated information and new enforcement tools. “This bill would make it an a misdemeanor if 90 days after their final deportation order, they remain in this country,” Lambert said on the floor, framing the measure as a way to protect public safety and obtain data ‘‘so that we can properly apply the funds we have.’’

Opponents argued the legislation would target vulnerable people and could undermine federal requirements and funding. Representative Pearson said the measure was part of a broader slate of bills that “do nothing but fuel anti‑immigrant sentiment,” and warned passage could harm cities, counties and school districts. Representative Salinas told colleagues the bill, in substance, challenged the 1982 Supreme Court decision in Plyler v. Doe that guarantees access to public K–12 education regardless of immigration status: “This bill is about challenging Plyler versus Doe,” Salinas said, urging members to consider implications for children.

Lawmakers also debated whether the bill’s data provisions would create administrative burdens or expose districts to federal penalties. Leader Lambert and other proponents said the amended language limits reporting to aggregated counts from local education agencies rather than individual names or addresses. “It just asks for that data,” Lambert said, adding that fiscal review rated the measure’s fiscal note “not significant.” Opponents disputed that estimate and cited an estimate invoked during debate that statewide implementation could cost $55,000,000.

After several procedural votes on previous‑question motions and extensive floor debate, the clerk recorded the third‑reading vote at 73 in favor and 22 opposed. The speaker declared the bill passed on third reading.

Votes at a glance
- H.B. 1704 (immigration): Passed on third reading, recorded vote 73–22.
- H.B. 803 (wastewater/utility framework): Passed after committee amendment; sponsors emphasized developer bonding, local utility right of refusal, and TDEC standards.
- Multiple other bills (various topics including school transportation, medical assistant scope, and state assessments) were taken up on third reading with roll call votes recorded or rolled to subsequent calendars as noted by the clerk.

What’s next
The passage on third consideration completes the House floor action for H.B. 1704; if the bill remains in this form, it will proceed through any remaining legislative steps required for enrollment and transmittal to the Senate or to the governor, subject to procedural rules and potential further amendments by the other chamber.

Reporting note: Direct quotes and vote tallies are taken from the House floor transcript of March 18, 2026. Speakers are identified using the names and roles they provided on the record or as they were identified by the presiding officer.