(The Center Square) – Undocumented immigrants with driver’s licenses in other states could face penalties if caught driving in Tennessee after Jan. 1.
House Bill 749, signed into law by Gov. Bill Lee in April, creates a Class B misdemeanor charge for the offense, with penalties of up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $500.
Nineteen U.S. states and Puerto Rico allow undocumented residents to obtain driving privileges, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Tennessee’s new law required the Department of Safety to list which licenses would not be valid in the state. The department’s website lists only Delaware and Connecticut as of Friday.
The legislation was separate from a sweeping immigration bill approved during lawmakers’ special session in January.
The provisions of Senate Bill 6002 require lawful permanent residents who renew a license or permit after Jan. 1 to show proof of U.S. citizenship. Those who cannot show proof will be issued a temporary version with a distinct marker.
Residents with a temporary driver’s license or state identification card cannot use it as proof of identification to vote, according to the new law.
Also included in the law was the creation of a Centralized Immigration Enforcement Division. Lee appointed Ryan Hubbard, a former federal immigration enforcement agent, to lead the division shortly after the law went into effect in July.
Another provision created a Class E felony for Tennessee elected officials who vote for sanctuary city policies. Sanctuary cities are illegal in the state.
The bill prompted debate among lawmakers about why a criminal penalty was needed. An amendment removing the penalty, proposed by Sen. Todd Gardenhire, R-Chattanooga, was defeated.
The General Assembly, scheduled to return to work on Jan. 13, could take up another immigration bill that spurred debate during the 2025 session.
Senate Bill 836, sponsored by Sen. Bo Watson, R-Hixson, would allow schools to question a student’s immigration status before enrolling them. The Knox County Board of Education opposed the bill in its 2026 legislative agenda.
The legislation, approved by the Senate, has moved to the House and could be revived when lawmakers return to Nashville.
