SLEW OF ANTI-EMPLOYER IMMIGRATION BILLS PENDING IN TENNESSEE LEGISLATURE

The Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC) reports the following measures have been introduced in the legislature this session:

SB 202 by Ketron, HB 729 by Hood—Creates Class E felony for "recklessly" or "knowingly" hiring an undocumented immigrant.

SB 204 by Ketron, HB 727 by Hood—Makes knowingly employing an "individual who has illegally entered the United States" a Class A misdemeanor (currently a Class B misdemeanor); mandates that TN Department of Labor conduct study on the impact of illegal immigration on state and local governments.

SB 254 by Haynes, HB 74 by Turner—Requires employers to become immigration experts and affirmatively verify immigration status of employees.

SB 903 by Ketron, HB 1274 Lynn—Tax Relief for Undocumented Immigrants Act: prohibits immigrants from paying federal income tax with an individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN).

SB 906 by Ketron, HB 1273 Lynn—Requires public employers to check immigrant work authorizations with Basic Pilot program.

SB 931 by Ketron, HB 429 by DuBois—Eliminates excise/franchise tax credits for any person who knowingly hires an immigrant "who is not authorized to be present in the United States."

SB 1240 by Kilby, HB 1639 by Ferguson —Allows revocation of license for any business assessed federal penalty for employing an undocumented immigrant; creates $10,000 fine for knowingly employing an "individual who has illegally entered the United States."

SB 1581 by Herron, HB 684 by Fitzhugh—Creates Class A misdemeanor for "recklessly" or "knowingly" hiring an undocumented immigrant.

SB 1739 by Ketron, HB 1322 by West —Creates special licensing requirements for the hospitality industry.

SB 1870 by Johnson, HB 877 by Johnson P—Requires employers to become immigration experts and affirmatively verify immigration status of employees.