Tennessee legislation · 114th General Assembly
Tennessee SB1587: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 55, Chapter 50, relative to unlawful presence in the United States.
Status: Chaptered, May 27, 2026
Fiscal Summary LOCAL GOVERNMENTEXPENDITURESMandatoryFY26-27 & Subsequent Years>$88,400 Article II, Section 24 of the Tennessee Constitution provides that: no law of general application shall impose increased expenditure requirements on cities or counties unless the General Assembly shall provide that the state share in the cost. Bill Summary Present law describes situations in which an employer may not allow, permit, or authorize an employee to operate a commercial motor vehicle in the United States. This bill expands the prohibitions by adding that an employer must not knowingly allow, permit, or authorize an employee to operate a commercial motor vehicle in the United States during any period in which the employee is unlawfully present in the United States. NEW MISDEMEANOR OFFENSE This bill makes it an offense (i) for a person to knowingly allow a person who is unlawfully present in the United States to operate a commercial motor vehicle in this state; and (ii) for a person who is unlawfully present in the United States to operate a commercial motor vehicle in this state. This bill classifies these offenses as Class A misdemeanors, which are punishable by imprisonment of not greater than 11 months, 29 days; a fine not greater than $2,500; or both. A law enforcement officer who arrests a person that is unlawfully present in the United States for operating a commercial motor vehicle must notify the officer's law enforcement agency of the arrest, and the law enforcement agency must then notify federal immigration authorities of the arrest. STRICT LIABILITY This bill provides that an employer who knowingly allows a person who is unlawfully present in the United States to operate a commercial motor vehicle, and any official or employee of any state who issues a commercial driver license to a person knowing that the person is un
What the bill says
From the amended text:
Senate Finance, Ways, and Means 1 Amendment No. 2 to SB1587 Watson Signature of Sponsor AMEND S e n ate Bill No. 1587* House Bill No. 1706 by deleting all language after the enacting clause and substituting instead: SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-50-403, is amended by adding the following as a new subdivision: (5) In which the employee is unlawfully present in the United States. SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-50-403, is amended by designating the existing language as subsection (a) and adding the following as new subsections: (b) (1) It is an offense for a direct employer to knowingly employ and allow a person unlawfully present in the United States to operate a commercial motor vehicle in this state. (2) It is an offense for a person who is unlawfully present in the United States to operate a commercial motor vehicle in this state if the operation of the vehicle requires the operator to be issued and possess a valid commercial driver license. (3) A violation of this subsection (b) is a Class A misdemeanor. (c) A law enforcement officer who arrests a person for a violation of subdivision (b)(2) shall notify the officer's law enforcement agency of the arrest, and the agency shall ensure that federal immigration authorities are notified, either through the agency's participation …