The 114th General Assembly reconvened in Nashville this week for the start of its second legislative session. Republicans plan to build on more than a decade’s worth of successes that have made Tennessee one of the most prosperous states in the nation.
Tennessee General Assembly gavels in for 2026
The 114th General Assembly reconvened in Nashville this week for the start of its second legislative session. Republicans plan to build on more than a decade’s worth of successes that have made Tennessee one of the most prosperous states in the nation.
Lawmakers’ top priority for 2026 is to approve a fiscally conservative spending plan that addresses the needs of all Tennesseans, keeps taxes low and makes strategic investments. The House Finance, Ways and Means Committee met in the fall to review the performance and financial status of state agencies and to receive detailed updates on spending, program outcomes and future funding needs. The committee will further analyze the state’s fiscal position in the coming weeks as part of the budget process.
Republicans will also prioritize improving student outcomes across Tennessee through innovative solutions and investments, including a potential expansion of the Education Freedom Scholarship program. Since 2012, Republicans have appropriated $4.4 billion in new dollars for education, transforming public schools across the state.
Improving public safety and tackling illegal immigration will continue to be a key area of focus for Republicans with efforts to reduce recidivism, support law enforcement and address evolving cyber and AI-enabled crimes.
House Republicans will put the Volunteer State first through common-sense conservative initiatives that make life better in communities across Tennessee.
First in the nation: GOP rolls out massive immigration reforms
House and Senate Republican leaders closed out the first week of the 2026 legislative session by unveiling a bold slate of bills aimed at strengthening illegal immigration enforcement in Tennessee.
In collaboration with President Donald Trump’s administration, House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, and Republican leaders announced nine key bills as part of their Immigration 2026 reform package. The initiative seeks to close loopholes in current law, prioritize taxpayer resources for legal residents and ensure accountability across the state.
“We all support immigrants who have come here legally,” said Sexton. “However, if you are in Tennessee illegally, then you will be asked to provide legal status or referred to ICE. Whether you are seeking public benefits, government jobs, CDL licenses or registering a vehicle. We are committed to protecting tax dollars, reducing fraud and ending sanctuary loopholes.”
The proposals build on Tennessee’s existing framework, including the General Assembly’s establishment of the Centralized Immigration Enforcement Division (CIED) in 2025, to create a more robust, transparent, and accountable system.
The comprehensive package directly aligns with President Trump’s border security and immigration policies.
“Tennesseans deserve a government that fully recognizes its sacred duty to protect the safety, security, and economic well-being of those lawfully in our state,” said House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland. “Without apology, we will do what it takes to ensure Tennessee never becomes a sanctuary state for illegal immigration. That means supporting law enforcement, closing loopholes, ending incentives for illegal entry and always putting Tennesseans first.”
Illegal immigration costs Tennessee taxpayers an estimated $971 million in 2023, according to the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIRus.org), a nonprofit advocacy group dedicated to reforming U.S. immigration policy.
In addition to crime, illegal immigration places massive strains on public services while weak enforcement and inconsistent reporting allow taxpayer-funded benefits, jobs, and licenses to go unchecked.
Preliminary reports from the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference (TDAGC) show law enforcement tracked approximately 11,063 encounters with illegals across Tennessee from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2025. The TDAGC’s full report detailing crimes committed by illegal immigrants for 2025 is expected to be released Jan. 30.
Current law permits, but does not require, referrals to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This has led to non-cooperation by some locals and provides little transparency for lawmakers or Tennessee taxpayers.
The proposals address critical areas, including public benefits, employment, licensing, reporting, education, judicial cooperation and criminalization of illegal entry.
These include:
Verify lawful status for public benefits
- Requires state and local governments to verify lawful status before issuing taxpayer-funded benefits.
- Mandates referrals to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Tennessee’s Centralized Immigration Enforcement Division when status cannot be verified.
- Empowers the Tennessee Attorney General to withhold shared sales tax revenue from non-compliant municipalities.
Mandatory E-Verify for government jobs
- Makes E-Verify mandatory for all new state and local government hires.
- Ends taxpayer-funded employment of illegal labor.
- Aligns public hiring standards with those already required in the private sector.
Professional licensing
- Requires proof of lawful status for licensed professions, including teachers, nurses, contractors, and other regulated occupations.
- Establishes uniform standards across professions.
Driver’s licenses and CDL reforms
- Requires verification of lawful status before issuance of driver’s licenses or vehicle registrations.
- All driver’s license exams are conducted in English, with a one-time limited exception and restricted license requirements.
- CDL applicants must be able to recognize traffic signs in English, regardless of exam format.
Real-time reporting and transparency
- Quarterly reports from state agencies on unverifiable immigration status encounters.
- Monthly reporting on non-citizens receiving public benefits, coordinated with DHS.
- Annual, comprehensive report detailing the total cost of illegal immigration to Tennessee taxpayers, including schools, hospitals, prisons, and social services.
K-12 enrollment verification
- Verifies lawful status for K-12 students to ensure transparency, protects classroom resources, and supports long-term planning.
Mandatory court and law enforcement cooperation
- Requires courts and local law enforcement to cooperate with ICE and enhance 287(g) agreements.
- Establishes clear penalties for jurisdictions that obstruct enforcement or ignore state law.
Illegal entry and re-entry as a state crime
- Makes illegal entry and re-entry a state criminal offense.
- Requires fingerprinting and DNA collection for offenders in custody.
“Tennessee taxpayers deserve to know their hard-earned dollars are supporting lawful residents and essential services for Tennesseans—not subsidizing illegal activity,” said the package sponsors. “This comprehensive reform closes dangerous gaps, strengthens enforcement, and upholds the rule of law while protecting our communities, schools, and public resources.”
Proposal reintroduces prayer, Bible instruction in schools
A Republican proposal would honor the United States’ constitutional heritage by establishing a voluntary prayer and Bible or religious text reading period in Tennessee public schools.
The Protecting Religious Freedom and Expression in Public Schools Act, sponsored by State Rep. Gino Bulso, R-Brentwood, would also require public schools, including charter schools, to teach parts of the Bible to Tennessee students as literature in a historical context. Age-appropriate instruction would include the history of Israel, stories and ethical teachings from the Old and New Testaments, the life of Jesus, early Christian church history, and the Bible’s impact on Western civilization.
“For more than 150 years, prayer filled classrooms and hallways of public schools across America,” said Bulso. “This legislation preserves students’ freedom of expression and ensures they learn about the Bible’s significant impact on the United States and the West, without imposing religious practices or beliefs.”
Bulso’s proposal would establish time for students and staff to participate in silent or vocal group prayer and reading of the Bible or another religious text as protected by the First Amendment. Students would be required to provide a signed consent form from a parent or guardian to participate. Prayers or text readings could not be broadcast over a public address system, and the period could not serve as a substitute for instructional time.
Bible instruction would be required to comply with the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, and not be taught as religious dogma or to coerce beliefs.
Public prayer was standard practice in schools in Tennessee and across the nation before the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1962 decision in Engel v. Vitale, which prohibited school-sponsored prayer. A recent report from the Pew Research Center revealed 69% of Tennesseans favor prayer in public schools.
House passes protections for children from explicit content
House Republicans wasted no time passing bills to promote family values, approving legislation on the first day of the legislative session to build on Tennessee’s existing protections for children from inappropriate adult entertainment.
House Bill 884, sponsored by State Rep. Chris Todd, R-Madison County, expands the definition of adult cabaret to include single or multiple performances by adult entertainers, ensuring children are protected from sexually explicit entertainment even at businesses that aren’t considered adult-oriented establishments.
“The Volunteer State leads the nation in passing common-sense policies to protect children from dangerous left-wing social policies,” Todd said. “This legislation is a key step in ensuring minors are not exposed to sexually explicit entertainment, whether it be at an adult bookstore or a local civic center.”
Current Tennessee law prohibits establishments that focus on selling or providing adult-oriented materials or entertainment from being located within 1,000 feet of a child care facility, public park, family recreation center, home, church or school. House Bill 884 clarifies that any establishment hosting an adult cabaret must abide by the 1,000-foot rule.
The companion version of House Bill 884 is still advancing through the Senate.
Measure expands law allowing death penalty for rape of a child
As part of Republican lawmakers’ continued efforts to protect children, one proposal seeks to give prosecutors additional tools to hold convicted child rapists accountable in Tennessee.
House Bill 1454, sponsored by State Rep. Greg Martin, R-Hixson, strengthens existing law by expanding the aggravating circumstances under which prosecutors may pursue the death penalty for the rape of a child.
“Any adult capable of violently and heinously violating the trust, innocence and well-being of a child deserves the maximum lawful penalty,” said Martin. “The death penalty ensures these morally depraved individuals can never reoffend.”
The Tennessee General Assembly in 2024 passed a law allowing juries to consider the death penalty as an option for someone convicted of rape of a child under 12. Sponsored by House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland, the measure increased the penalty for rape or aggravated rape of a child to a Class A felony (Range III) offense, which carries a 40–60-year prison sentence.
House Bill 1454 builds on the General Assembly’s efforts to improve public safety, reduce recidivism rates and hold criminals accountable through smart-on-crime justice reforms.
Lawmakers advance legislation establishing MSCS oversight
Republican lawmakers in the House and Senate this week advanced a proposal to create an oversight board for Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) to improve academic outcomes and college readiness.
House Bill 662 willcreate a local oversight board to assist the MSCS Board of Education in addressing areas of insufficient performance within the district.
“Families in Memphis and Shelby County deserve a school system that works and prepares them for a strong future,” said White. “This vital legislation will help make MSCS – Tennessee’s largest school district – a model for the state and nation by boosting transparency and addressing the fundamental issues negatively impacting student success.”
The proposal will ensure the local education agency (LEA) meets the needs of students in Shelby County and efficiently utilizes its budget, which totals nearly $1.9 billion this academic year.
House Bill 662 authorizes a board of managers to serve for three years, with the option for a three-year extension if necessary. The MSCS board would be required to submit its proposed budget to the oversight board for approval before being adopted by the appropriate local legislative body. It would also prohibit the school board from authorizing any purchase or entering into, renewing, or amending any contract worth $50,000 or more without oversight.
Dozens of schools in the MSCS system received D or F grades in the 2024-25 school year. The district has continuously underperformed in recent decades.
Tennessee lawmakers approved $6 million in the 2025-26 state budget for a forensic audit of MSCS. The audit began over the summer to identify potential fraud, waste and abuse within the district as part of Republican efforts to improve academic outcomes in Shelby County and across the state.
Republican proposal would ease cost of groceries for seniors
A new Republican proposal seeks to ease the cost of living for senior citizens in Tennessee. House Bill 1486, sponsored by State Rep. Michael Hale, R-Smithville, would provide a sales tax exemption on the retail sale of food and food ingredients for Tennesseans aged 65 and older.
“Tennessee’s aging adults have spent a lifetime working, raising families and contributing to their communities. They deserve security and dignity in retirement, ” Hale said. “By taking steps to reduce everyday costs for basic necessities, we can make life a little easier and help them maintain their independence.”
During the 113th General Assembly, the Republican supermajority passed the largest tax cut in state history, including a three-month grocery tax holiday through the Tennessee Works Tax Act of 2023 and franchise and excise tax reform. The Volunteer State remains one of the lowest-taxed states in the nation and collects zero state income tax.
Tennessee Retirement Savings Plan Act proposed
A new proposal seeks to build on Republican efforts to promote strong families and long-term financial stability. The Tennessee Retirement Savings Plan Act, sponsored by State Rep. Charlie Baum, R-Murfreesboro, would create a state-facilitated, employee-funded retirement savings plan similar to a 401(k) for Tennesseans who don’t have access to one through their employer.
“Every hardworking Tennessean deserves the opportunity to save for retirement, whether they work for a small business, are self-employed or otherwise don’t have a plan through their job,” Baum said.
Participation would be voluntary and accounts would be individually owned, allowing workers to retain their savings when changing jobs or roll funds into another retirement account. The plan would be created, designed and overseen by a seven-member board within the Tennessee Department of Treasury and professionally managed by a private, third-party provider.
One in five Americans over the age of 50 has no retirement savings and more than half worry they will not have enough money to support themselves in retirement, according to a 2024 study by the AARP.
House welcomes newest member
State Rep. Michael Lankford, R-Palmyra, was sworn in this week to represent District 75 in the Tennessee House of Representatives. Lankford was appointed by the Montgomery County Commission to fill the vacancy left by the passing of former State Rep. Jeff Burkhart.
“Today, I took an oath to uphold our state constitution, discharge my duties responsibly and serve the people of Tennessee with integrity,” Lankford said. “That oath reflects the heart of why I have always felt called to serve. To uphold that vow through this office is the honor of a lifetime, and I look forward to advancing the values and priorities of District 75 and the state of Tennessee.”
Lankford was sworn in by Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Sarah Keeton Campbell on the first day of the 2026 legislative session.
Briefly…
Expanding firefighter protections: NewRepublican legislation seeks to strengthen medical protections for firefighters in Tennessee. House Bill 1489, sponsored by State Rep. Jerome Moon, R-Maryville, would extend existing cancer presumption coverage to arson investigators, ensuring their cancer diagnoses are presumed to be work-related and eligible for the same protections afforded to firefighters.
Education Freedom Scholarship applications: Families in Tennessee can apply for the Education Freedom Scholarship program until 4 p.m. CST on Jan. 30 for the 2026-27 school year. The Tennessee Department of Education began accepting applications for current participants on Dec. 9 and for all applicants on Jan. 13. More than 50,300 new and renewal applications have already been received, with approximately half qualifying for income-prioritized scholarships. Nearly 100% of previously-enrolled families have applied to renew their scholarship. A waitlist will be established, and families are encouraged to continue submitting applications.
Bill filing deadline approaching: The bill filing deadline for the 2026 legislative session is Friday, Jan. 30. As of Thursday, more than 250 bills had already been filed in the House.
State of the State: Gov. Bill Lee will deliver his final State of the State address to members of the General Assembly and Tennesseans on Monday, Feb. 2.
State offices will be closed in observance of the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday, Jan. 19. Members of the House of Representatives return to Capitol Hill on Tuesday, Jan. 20.
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