Employees, Employers - As enacted, generally requires, beginning July 1, 2026, all state and local governmental employers to verify the work authorization status of each prospective employee through the federal E-Verify program prior to employment; authorizes the attorney general to enforce compliance with the requirement against local governments and subjects a noncompliant local government to the withholding of all funds of this state allocated to the local government via grant, contract, or statute, including, but not limited to, state-shared taxes. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 8; Title 12 and Title 50.
HB 1705 requires all Tennessee state and local government employers (including counties, cities, school districts, and public agencies) to verify new hires' work authorization using the federal E-Verify program starting July 1, 2026. Employers must maintain verification records and cannot hire without this check. The Attorney General can enforce compliance by withholding state funds (such as grants or shared taxes) from local governments that fail to comply. This bill directly affects public-sector employers and creates a financial penalty for non-compliance, without altering federal immigration law.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
House Passage
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
Apr 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Jan 21, 2026
Signed Apr 21, 2026
Floor votes
How they voted
This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
32
Key actions
13
Committee
8
Apr 21, 2026
Signed into law
Signed by Governor.
lower
Apr 8, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by H. Speaker
lower
Apr 8, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by Senate Speaker
upper
Apr 6, 2026
Lower · Passed
H. concurred in S. am. no. 1 Ayes 76, Nays 14 PNV 0 HB1705
lower
Mar 30, 2026
Lower · Passed
Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0749)
lower
Mar 30, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 27, Nays 5
upper
Mar 19, 2026
Introduced
Received from House, Passed on First Consideration
lower
Mar 16, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed H., Ayes 73, Nays 21, PNV 0
lower
Mar 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee
lower
Mar 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 3/12/2026
lower
Mar 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Commerce Committee for 3/11/2026
lower
Feb 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Commerce Committee for 3/4/2026
lower
Feb 18, 2026
Lower · Passed
Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Commerce Committee
lower
Feb 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Banking & Consumer Affairs Subcommittee for 2/18/2026
lower
Jan 22, 2026
Committee
P2C, ref. to Commerce Committee
lower
Jan 22, 2026
Committee
Assigned to s/c Banking & Consumer Affairs Subcommittee
lower
Jan 21, 2026
Introduced
Intro., P1C.
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Tim Rudd
RRepublican
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