Tennessee House Bill HB1925

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/22/26
• Refer: 2/4/26

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 8 and Title 39, relative to the "One America Act."

Summary

HB1925, titled the "One America Act," would create a new state process for certain people who have resided in Tennessee for more than 30 days and are not lawfully present in the United States. The bill requires those individuals to register with the Tennessee Department of Safety and submit to an interview. The department would then determine, within 30 days, whether the person is eligible for a one-year visa for re-entry into the United States and Tennessee. If the department finds a person eligible, that person must leave the United States within 90 days, remain outside the country for at least 30 days, and then may return lawfully using the one-year visa. After completing the one-year period without committing a criminal offense, the person could apply for permanent resident status under federal immigration law. If the department finds a person ineligible, the person must leave the United States within 30 days of receiving notice. The bill would take effect only after the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services establishes rules and regulations to implement it.

Impact

The bill would add a new section to Tennessee law in Title 4 governing state administrative procedures related to immigration enforcement and registration. It would assign the Department of Safety a new role in identifying, interviewing, and making eligibility determinations for certain undocumented residents, and it would create state-level consequences tied to departure from and re-entry into the United States. The measure also references federal immigration law and would depend on federal agency rulemaking before taking effect, making its practical implementation contingent on federal action.

Sentiment

No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of legislative debate or formal support/opposition in the available materials. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears to be a highly restrictive immigration proposal that would likely draw strong interest and debate because it creates a state-administered process for undocumented residents and conditions continued presence in the country on compliance with departure and re-entry requirements.

Contention

The main points of contention would likely center on immigration policy, state authority versus federal authority, and the feasibility of Tennessee creating a visa-related process tied to federal immigration status. Supporters may view the bill as a structured pathway for certain undocumented residents to regularize their status, while opponents may object to mandatory registration, compelled departure, and the state’s involvement in immigration determinations. The bill’s dependence on USCIS rulemaking also raises implementation and legal-compatibility concerns.