Tennessee advances “First-in-the-Nation” immigration bills

In what Rep. Paul Sherrell’s office is calling a “first-in-the-nation” effort, Tennessee lawmakers advanced a pair of bills this week aimed at addressing illegal immigration while giving the state better data to manage its public schools.

One of the measures, House Bill 793, would require local school districts and public charter schools to verify a student’s citizenship or legal status at the time of enrollment. Supporters say the goal is not enforcement, but information — giving the state a clearer picture of how enrollment trends are affecting classrooms, staffing, and funding decisions.