Updates from the 2024 state legislative session

The 113th Tennessee General Assembly adjourned last week, ending a two-year term marked by a series of attacks on Tennesseans’ basic rights. 

Heading downtown

Our advocacy team spent lots of time at the Capitol during the legislative session.

Advocating for our community

TNJFON staff, volunteers, and board members met with state legislators including Sen. Jeff Yarbro (center) to advocate for welcoming policies.

Transparency and accountability

We often join other advocates in attending House floor meetings (pictured), Senate floor meetings, and committee meetings to let our legislators know the people are watching.

Educating the community

Executive Director Tessa Lemos Del Pino shared legislative updates with the Graham Inquirers Sunday school class at Belmont United Methodist Church.

Building relationships

Our advocacy team joined community partners including Conexión Américas (pictured) at a rally organized by the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition to urge Gov. Bill Lee not to sign HB2124.

What happened this session: 

HB2124/ SB2576 was signed into law on April 11 and is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2024. The bill requires all local law enforcement agencies to collaborate with federal immigration enforcement, though the specific practices remain unclear and will likely differ between jurisdictions. What is clear is the intent to intimidate immigrant communities. 

Fear of deportation already prevents many immigrant survivors of violence from seeking support. The uncertainty created by this legislation is likely to exacerbate that fear. At TNJFON, we’ve already had clients and community members reach out to ask about how they and their loved ones might be affected by the new legislation.

We will continue to monitor the impact of HB2124, but it is just one symptom of a much deeper problem in Tennessee. When state politicians share disinformation and use dehumanizing language to talk about immigrants, they fuel hate that harms Tennesseans in countless ways.

What didn’t happen: 

Fortunately, several other harmful bills stalled in committee. HB1730/SB 717 would have rolled back existing language access on the driver license test at a time when we should be expanding it instead. HB2078/SB2802 would have criminalized anyone transporting an undocumented immigrant into the state, including rideshare drivers, healthcare personnel, educators, faith leaders, and regular people helping out a family member, friend, or neighbor. 

The three competing versions of a school voucher bill also failed. Any of them would have funneled public funds from public to private schools; the House bill was also specifically designed to exclude students who aren’t citizens. 

What comes next: 

All of the representatives and half of the senators (those with even-numbered districts) are up for reelection in November. In 2025 the new legislature will convene for the first session of the 114th General Assembly. Bills don’t carry over from assembly to assembly, so legislators whose bills failed will need to start over next year by reintroducing them. 

While specific bills brought in the 113th may be dead, the underlying racism persists. We are committed to challenging disinformation and strengthening immigrant communities beyond the legislative session. Click the button below to learn more and advocate with us!