HB 793 Tennessee House · 114th Regular Session (2025-2026)

Local Education Agencies - As introduced, authorizes LEAs and public charter schools to refuse to enroll students who are unlawfully present in the United States. - Amends TCA Title 4 and Title 49.

HB 793 allows Tennessee public schools and charter schools to deny enrollment to students who are in the U.S. without legal permission (referred to as "unlawfully present" in the bill). The bill amends Tennessee Code Titles 4 and 49 to explicitly permit schools to refuse enrollment for this reason, overriding other laws that might require enrollment. This directly affects schools' enrollment decisions and students without legal immigration status. The policy change is limited to enrollment eligibility and does not address other school services or requirements.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Feb 5, 2025 Last action Mar 16, 2026
Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
26
Key actions
12
Committee
16
Mar 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 3/12/2026
lower
Mar 10, 2026
Lower · Passed
Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee
lower
Mar 4, 2026
Committee
Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
lower
Mar 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Finance, Ways, and Means Committee for 3/10/2026
lower
Feb 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 3/4/2026
lower
Apr 14, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2025
lower
Apr 9, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2025
lower
Apr 8, 2025
Committee
Assigned to s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee
lower
Apr 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Rec. for pass; ref to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
lower
Apr 2, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Government Operations Committee for 4/7/2025
lower
Mar 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Government Operations Committee
lower
Mar 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Education Committee for 3/26/2025
lower
Mar 11, 2025
Lower · Passed
Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Education Committee
lower
Mar 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal K-12 Subcommittee for 3/11/2025
lower
Feb 10, 2025
Committee
Assigned to s/c K-12 Subcommittee
lower
Feb 6, 2025
Committee
P2C, ref. to Education Committee
lower
Feb 5, 2025
Introduced
Intro., P1C.
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of William Lamberth
William Lamberth
RRepublican
TN
44