State Rep. Dennis Powers, R-Jacksboro, has filed legislation to protect Tennessee taxpayers and ensure public benefits are not abused by illegal immigrants.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – State Rep. Dennis Powers, R-Jacksboro, has filed legislation to protect Tennessee taxpayers and ensure public benefits are not abused by illegal immigrants.
While state agencies already verify legal status of adults applying for public benefits, House Bill 1710 expands this requirement to include city and county governments. It mandates reporting to immigration authorities when applicants are found ineligible. It authorizes the state to withhold shared sales tax revenues from local governments that fail to comply.
The law applies to a variety of state and federal programs designed to support low-income individuals, families, seniors and people with disabilities. Key benefits would include TennCare, Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Families First (TANF), unemployment payments, subsidized child care or housing and other programs managed primarily by the Tennessee Department of Human Services.
“Tennessee taxpayers deserve confidence that public benefits funded by their hard-earned dollars are going only to those who are legally eligible,” Powers said. “By strengthening accountability and enforcement, this legislation helps protect public resources while eliminating enforcement gaps that undermine the rule of the law.”
Applicants may continue receiving benefits while verification is pending, however, any ongoing benefits must be terminated if final verification determines they are ineligible.
House Bill 1710 also establishes monthly reporting requirements for state and local entities, including the identities of applicants found ineligible and the number of benefits terminated as a result.
Individuals found to be unlawfully receiving public benefits must be reported to the state’s Centralized Immigration Enforcement Division (CIED) which works in partnership with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Current law permits, but does not require, referrals to state and federal officials which has led to non-cooperation by some locals and provides little transparency for lawmakers or Tennessee taxpayers.
Finally, if municipalities fail to comply with reporting requirements, the bill authorizes the Tennessee Attorney General to withhold shared sales tax revenue. It also creates a Class A misdemeanor for any government employee or public official who fails to comply with reporting requirements.
The bill is part of a comprehensive illegal immigration legislative package proposed by Tennessee Republicans to enforce existing laws, protect taxpayers and close sanctuary loopholes.
Tennessee taxpayers are footing the bill for about $971 million annually to provide education, health care, law enforcement and correctional services to illegal immigrants, according to a 2023 report by Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR).
House Bill 1710 is expected to be heard in the Departments and Agencies Subcommittee in the coming weeks.
Dennis Powers represents District 36 in the Tennessee House of Representatives which includes Campbell, Union and part of Claiborne counties.
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