Persons Unlawfully Present In The United States

This bill allows local education agencies and public charter schools in Tennessee to deny enrollment to students who are in the country unlawfully. It seeks to amend existing state laws related to education and immigration status. Essentially, it aims to ensure that only students with legal status can attend these schools.

TN HB0793 is a house bill in the Tennessee 114th General Assembly, sponsored by William Lamberth (R), currently “Introduced” since February 4, 2025.

We track 9,160 Tennessee bills this session, 258 of them sponsored by William Lamberth.

Supporters of the bill argue that it upholds the rule of law and protects educational resources for legal residents. They believe it helps ensure that public education benefits those who are legally in the country and promotes accountability within the education system.

Critics of the bill contend that it unfairly targets vulnerable children and denies them access to education based on their immigration status. They argue that this could lead to increased inequality and hinder the ability of children to contribute positively to society in the future.

The potential conflict of interest in this case primarily revolves around William Lamberth's role as a board member of Volunteer State Community College. The bill HB0793, which allows LEAs and public charter schools to refuse enrollment to students unlawfully present in the United States, intersects with the education sector. While Volunteer State Community College is a higher education institution and not directly affected by K-12 enrollment policies, Lamberth's involvement in the education sector could suggest an indirect alignment of interests. Additionally, his spouse's employment with Sumner County Schools, although not directly related to the bill's impact, adds a layer of potential influence in educational policy matters. However, there is no direct financial gain evident from the bill's passage for Lamberth, as his roles in the education sector do not directly benefit from changes in K-12 enrollment policies.

Unlike federal analysis based on campaign donations, state analysis examines legislators' personal financial interests — their jobs, businesses, and investments.

Items marked "AI-researched" are generated from public sources but have not been independently verified. Verified data is sourced from official legislature websites and disclosure filings.