Tennessee House Bill HB0145

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/14/25
• Refer: 1/16/25
• Failed: 3/26/25

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 1; Title 4; Title 7; Title 45 and Title 49, relative to legal status to be present in the United States.

Summary

HB0145, titled the “Tennessee Reduction of Unlawful Migrant Placement Act” or “TRUMP Act,” would make a series of changes to Tennessee law tied to immigration status and access to certain state services. It would redefine terms such as “resident of this state” and “citizen of this state” to include only U.S. citizens and aliens lawfully present in Tennessee, with lawful presence verified through specified government identification. The bill also creates a new chapter in Title 45 governing financial institutions and requires them to verify immigration status before electronically sending or transferring funds outside the United States and its territories. Under the bill, financial institutions would have to request and retain copies of government identification for two years when processing such transfers, and the Department of Financial Institutions could review those records and impose civil penalties for violations. The bill further amends the public-school statute to limit free public education to persons lawfully residing in the state and to require tuition and fees for students not lawfully residing in Tennessee, using the same identification-based definition of lawful residence. The act would take effect July 1, 2025, and authorizes rulemaking by the Department of Financial Institutions to implement its provisions.

Impact

The bill would substantially alter Tennessee Code Annotated in Titles 1, 45, and 49 by tying legal residency, financial-transfer eligibility, and public-school access to proof of lawful presence in the United States. It would create new compliance duties for banks, credit unions, mortgage entities, and similar financial institutions, while also changing the statutory framework for public education by imposing tuition on students deemed not lawfully residing in the state. The Department of Financial Institutions and the attorney general would gain enforcement authority, and the bill would likely affect immigrants, mixed-status families, schools, and financial service providers.

Sentiment

The available voting history suggests the bill faced resistance early in the process, as it failed 2-2 in the House Banking and Consumer Affairs Subcommittee. No committee transcript is available, so there is no recorded floor or committee debate to show broader support or opposition. Based on the bill’s subject matter and the failed subcommittee vote, the measure appears to have been controversial and not broadly embraced at that stage.

Contention

The main points of contention are the bill’s immigration-status verification requirements and the extent to which the state should condition access to financial services and public education on proof of lawful presence. Opponents are likely concerned about administrative burdens on financial institutions and schools, privacy and documentation issues, and the practical effects on immigrants and their families. Supporters would likely frame the bill as an enforcement measure aimed at restricting benefits or services to lawful residents, but no transcript is available to identify specific arguments from legislators.