HB 1710 · State and Local Government

Tennessee • State and Local Government

HB 1710

Immigration - As enacted, adds local governments to the entities that must verify that each applicant for public benefits is a United States citizen or lawfully present in the United States; authorizes certain investigations of violations of requirements for verification of citizenship or presence for public benefits; requires certain reporting related to such verification for benefits; makes other related changes. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 1 and Title 4, Chapter 58.

Here is what HB 1710 does, in plain language, and the committee that moved it forward. It has advanced, but those lawmakers still answer to you. Read it, then make your voice heard in about five minutes.

Take action now

Bill: HB 1710, Immigration - As enacted, adds local governments to the entities that must verify that each applicant for public benefits is a United States citizen or lawfully present in the United States; authorizes certain investigations of violations of requirements for verification of citizenship or presence for public benefits; requires certain reporting related to such verification for benefits; makes other related changes. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 1 and Title 4, Chapter 58.Sponsor: PowersStatus: Comp. became Pub. Ch. 1106 (May 27, 2026)

Last updated Aug 29, 2026, 5:23 PM ·

What this bill is, in plain language

The basics

Drafting the plain-language summary...

Read the bill yourself

Bills like this can move fast, and the changes aren't always public until after they happen. This plain-language summary is based on the latest information we could find as of the time shown above. It's a starting point, not the final word. If you have concerns, please read the bill yourself before taking action.

What's being reported in the media

In The News/Updates

The state doesn't update its public site in real time, so official information from the legislature can be delayed. Here's what's being reported in the media.

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News coverage from outside outlets, not the state and not verified by The Autism Dad. The state's official record often lags this reporting, so check the date and read the source.

Make your voice heard

Take action in 5 minutes

These are starting drafts. Read them, make them yours, and double-check before you send or call. You're the one speaking. The bill summary is AI-assisted, so verify anything important against the bill itself.

Email the committee

It's ready. Copy it, or open it in your email app with everyone already in the BCC.

Your email

Open in email app

6 spots to fill in

Dear Legislator,

I'm a Tennessee constituent and I'm writing about HB 1710, Immigration - As enacted, adds local governments to the entities that must verify that each applicant for public benefits is a United States citizen or lawfully present in the United States; authorizes certain investigations of violations of requirements for verification of citizenship or presence for public benefits; requires certain reporting related to such verification for benefits; makes other related changes. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 1 and Title 4, Chapter 58..

I'm following this closely. The State and Local Government advanced this bill, and I want you to hear the concerns families like mine are raising about it. [Add a sentence or two about why this matters to your family.]

We are paying attention, we vote, and in November we will not forget how you voted on this.

Thank you for your time,
[Your name]
[Your street address]
[City], TN [ZIP]
[Your email or phone]

Subject

Constituent message about HB 1710, Immigration - As enacted, adds local governments to the entities that must verify that each applicant for public benefits is a United States citizen or lawfully present in the United States; authorizes certain investigations of violations of requirements for verification of citizenship or presence for public benefits; requires certain reporting related to such verification for benefits; makes other related changes. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 1 and Title 4, Chapter 58.

Send to (paste into BCC)

rep.john.crawford@capitol.tn.gov, rep.dave.wright@capitol.tn.gov, rep.dan.howell@capitol.tn.gov, rep.dennis.powers@capitol.tn.gov, rep.ed.butler@capitol.tn.gov, rep.greg.martin@capitol.tn.gov, rep.iris.rudder@capitol.tn.gov, rep.jake.mccalmon@capitol.tn.gov, rep.jerome.moon@capitol.tn.gov, rep.mary.littleton@capitol.tn.gov, rep.michael.lankford@capitol.tn.gov, rep.michele.carringer@capitol.tn.gov, rep.rick.eldridge@capitol.tn.gov, rep.rush.bricken@capitol.tn.gov, rep.tim.rudd@capitol.tn.gov, rep.todd.warner@capitol.tn.gov, rep.tom.leatherwood@capitol.tn.gov

Fills the [brackets] in the email and call script. These fields stay in your browser and are never sent to us. The email above updates as you type.

First name

Last name

Street address

City

State

ZIP

Phone (optional)

★

Start with the leadership

These 2 decide whether HB 1710 gets a vote or a substitute.

The Chair, Vice Chair, and Ranking Member control scheduling and what the committee votes on. Start here, then reach the rest below.

Chair

John Crawford

Republican • District 1

615-741-7623
rep.john.crawford@capitol.tn.gov

Vice Chair

Dave Wright

Republican • District 19

615-741-6879
rep.dave.wright@capitol.tn.gov

Who you are contacting

Everyone on the committee is included by default. Open this only if you want to leave someone out.

Call (it counts even more)

Use the script. Start with the leaders.

Phone script

1 spot to fill in

Hi, my name is [your name] and I'm a constituent. I'm calling about HB 1710 (Immigration - As enacted, adds local governments to the entities that must verify that each applicant for public benefits is a United States citizen or lawfully present in the United States; authorizes certain investigations of violations of requirements for verification of citizenship or presence for public benefits; requires certain reporting related to such verification for benefits; makes other related changes. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 1 and Title 4, Chapter 58.). I want to make sure you hear the concerns families are raising about how it was handled. Thank you.

Call list (leaders first)

Chair, John Crawford (Republican-1): 615-741-7623
Vice Chair, Dave Wright (Republican-19): 615-741-6879
Dan Howell (Republican-22): 615-741-7799
Dennis Powers (Republican-36): 615-741-3335
Ed Butler (Republican-41): 615-741-1260
Greg Martin (Republican-26): 615-741-2548
Iris Rudder (Republican-39): 615-741-8695
Jake McCalmon (Republican-63): 615-741-4389
Jerome Moon (Republican-8): 615-741-5481
Mary Littleton (Republican-78): 615-741-7477
Michael Lankford (Republican-75): 615-741-6804
Michele Carringer (Republican-16): 615-741-1721
Rick Eldridge (Republican-10): 615-741-6877
Rush Bricken (Republican-47): 615-741-7448
Tim Rudd (Republican-34): 615-741-2804
Todd Warner (Republican-92): 615-741-4170
Tom Leatherwood (Republican-99): 615-741-7084

Also contact your own reps

Your own legislators weigh constituents most. Add them without leaving this page.

Your address (used once to find your districts, not stored)

Your address is used once to find your districts and is not stored. It goes to the U.S. Census geocoder to match your address to a district.

Spread the word

Post it and tag other Tennessee parents.

Facebook / social post

TENNESSEE FAMILIES: HB 1710 (Immigration - As enacted, adds local governments to the entities that must verify that each applicant for public benefits is a United States citizen or lawfully present in the United States; authorizes certain investigations of violations of requirements for verification of citizenship or presence for public benefits; requires certain reporting related to such verification for benefits; makes other related changes. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 1 and Title 4, Chapter 58.) moved through the State and Local Government. These are the lawmakers who advanced it. Make sure they hear from you.

START WITH THESE:
Chair, John Crawford (Republican-1): 615-741-7623
Vice Chair, Dave Wright (Republican-19): 615-741-6879

THEN CALL THE REST:
Dan Howell (Republican-22): 615-741-7799
Dennis Powers (Republican-36): 615-741-3335
Ed Butler (Republican-41): 615-741-1260
Greg Martin (Republican-26): 615-741-2548
Iris Rudder (Republican-39): 615-741-8695
Jake McCalmon (Republican-63): 615-741-4389
Jerome Moon (Republican-8): 615-741-5481
Mary Littleton (Republican-78): 615-741-7477
Michael Lankford (Republican-75): 615-741-6804
Michele Carringer (Republican-16): 615-741-1721
Rick Eldridge (Republican-10): 615-741-6877
Rush Bricken (Republican-47): 615-741-7448
Tim Rudd (Republican-34): 615-741-2804
Todd Warner (Republican-92): 615-741-4170
Tom Leatherwood (Republican-99): 615-741-7084

No time to call them all? Call three. Then share this and tag every Tennessee parent you know.

#autism #parenting

Make sure your voice counts in November

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"We are paying attention, we vote, and in November we will not forget how you voted on this."

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