The Republican supermajority in the Tennessee General Assembly approved a package of immigration measures crafted with White House adviser Stephen Miller. Governor Bill Lee has already signed several provisions, with the remainder slated for a July 1 rollout. The bills span driver‑license testing, public‑benefit reporting and local law‑enforcement cooperation, signaling a state‑level echo of the federal crackdown.

Drivers seeking licenses will now face an English‑language hurdle: applicants who cannot pass an English written exam receive only a non‑renewable, 18‑month permit before a permanent license demands English proficiency. A separate statute obligates state and local employees to report any undocumented individual who accesses public hospitals or welfare programs, attaching potential jail time for non‑compliance and threatening to withhold state funds from agencies that fail to verify immigration status.

Sheriffs must sign formal agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement by Jan. 1 or lose state financing, while a misdemeanor law penalizes immigrants who ignore removal orders after a 90‑day deadline. By embedding these requirements into state policy, Tennessee positions itself as a testing ground for stricter immigration enforcement, a move that could reshape local government budgeting and legal exposure.