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SB 1952

Immigration - As introduced, requires a local government entity to comply with a court order regarding an unlawful sanctuary policy within 120 days of the issuance of the court's order. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 7; Title 8; Title 16; Title 17 and Title 38.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Adam Lowe and 1 co-sponsor

Tennessee bill requires local governments to end sanctuary policies within 120 days of court orders, centralizing immigration enforcement authority and limiting municipal policy discretion.

Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 7, Nays 2 PNV 0
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Bill Summary · SB 1952

Legislative bill overview

SB 1952 mandates that local government entities in Tennessee comply with court orders declaring their sanctuary policies unlawful within 120 days. The bill amends multiple sections of Tennessee Code to enforce this compliance timeline and establishes consequences for non-compliance with judicial determinations regarding immigration enforcement cooperation.

Why is this important

This bill addresses the intersection of local autonomy and state/federal immigration enforcement authority. It directly impacts how cities and counties can structure their law enforcement policies regarding cooperation with federal immigration authorities, potentially affecting public safety approaches, community trust in local police, and resource allocation for local law enforcement agencies.

Potential points of contention

  • Local control vs. state mandate: Tensions between municipal home rule authority and state-level requirements to enforce federal immigration cooperation
  • Sanctuary policy effectiveness debate: Disagreement over whether sanctuary policies improve community policing outcomes and crime reporting, or hinder immigration enforcement goals
  • Court order definition ambiguity: Unclear standards for what constitutes an "unlawful" sanctuary policy and which courts have authority to make such determinations
  • Implementation enforcement mechanisms: How penalties will be applied and whether cities have sufficient resources to comply within the 120-day window

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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