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House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland, this week filed legislation allowing local school districts and charter schools to opt out of enrolling a child unlawfully present in the United States.

House Bill 793 seeks to challenge Plyler vs Doe, a 5-4 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 1982 that gave children illegally in the U.S. the right to a free public education.

"The flood of illegal immigrants in our country has put an enormous drain on American tax dollars and resources. Our schools are the first to feel the impact." Lamberth said. "Tennessee communities should not have to suffer or pay when the federal government fails to secure our borders. Our obligation is to ensure a high-quality education for legal residents first."

Illegal immigration cost American taxpayers $151 billion in 2023 at federal, state and local levels.

This issue was highlighted at a Rutherford County Board of Education meeting on Jan. 23 when school board members passed a resolution asking leaders to expedite closure of the nation’s borders and increase funds for English as a Second Language (ESL) programs. According to the school board, Rutherford County has experienced a "significant surge in its English Learner (EL) population, with an increase of more than 140% in the past decade." The school board said it has more than 8,370 ESL students enrolled this year.

A 2019 analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data by the Migration Policy Institute estimated 128,000 illegal's were residing in Tennessee. The group estimated approximately 10,000 were school-aged children enrolled in Tennessee public schools

When an unaccompanied migrant child is apprehended by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, custody and care of the child is transferred to the Office of Refugee Resettlement which must provide social services until children are placed with a sponsor.

Approximately 17,713 unaccompanied alien children have been taken into custody and released to a sponsor in Tennessee since 2021.

Several bills have been introduced in the General Assembly to raise awareness of the dangers of fentanyl and to protect Tennesseans from being exposed to the dangerous drug.

House Bill 143, introduced by Deputy Speaker Jason Zachary, R-Knoxville, co-sponsored by State Rep. Lowell Russell, R-Vonore, will expand the Class C felony offense of aggravated assault against a first responder to include knowingly exposing an on-duty first responder to fentanyl or one of its derivatives if it results in serious bodily injury or death.

"First responders are essential to the public safety of our communities and we owe them an incredible debt of gratitude," Zachary said. "As record numbers of Americans have died from fentanyl overdoses in recent years, we must work to keep Tennesseans safe from these dangerous drugs. This legislation seeks to further protect first responders in the Volunteer State from fentanyl exposure while they are working selflessly to protect Tennesseans."

Knowingly exposing a first responder to fentanyl under this legislation would come with a mandatory minimum fine of $15,000 and a mandatory minimum sentence of 90 days in jail.

Another bill will designate October as the Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month in public schools across Tennessee.

House Bill 617, sponsored by State Rep. Dave Wright, R-Corryton, co-sponsored by State Rep. Lowell Russell, R-Vonore, will require public schools to provide age-appropriate, research-based instruction on fentanyl abuse prevention and drug poisoning awareness to students in grades 6-12.

Republicans at the state and federal levels are escalating efforts to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

These changes align with recent federal efforts, including executive orders signed by President Donald Trump to eliminate discriminatory preferences and end federal DEI programs.

Tennessee would join several states, including Texas and Utah, in passing similar legislation shuttering DEI departments and initiatives.

The Tennessee General Assembly would be among the first to successfully pass legislation prohibiting DEI hiring practices in local government and public universities.

A bill to ease the process of restoring a person’s right to vote in Tennessee after a felony conviction has been introduced in the General Assembly.

House Bill 445, sponsored by State Rep. Bud Hulsey, R-Kingsport, co-sponsored by State Rep. Lowell Russell, R-Vonore, will allow for the restoration of one or more rights of citizenship, including the right to vote and to serve on a jury, when certain conditions are met. This legislation ensures suffrage can be regained without the right to possess a firearm reinstated.

"The right to vote is fundamental in our nation and it’s never been easier to cast a ballot than it is today," Hulsey said. "When someone violates the law and is convicted of a felony, they forfeit certain rights of citizenship in Tennessee. Committing serious crimes has consequences, and we remain steadfast in holding offenders accountable. This legislation supports those who have paid their debt to society and desire to leave misdeeds in the past by leading productive lives."

People convicted of infamous crimes, which include any felony, are barred from voting in Tennessee elections.

Current Tennessee law includes a two-step process that necessitates a pardon or restoration of full citizenship rights to regain the ability to vote, in addition to meeting eligibility requirements including paying restitution, court costs, and child support.

The proposed legislation doesn’t change Tennessee’s eligibility requirements but allows for people to regain suffrage without full restoration of rights.

The Volunteer State ranks No. 1 in election integrity and continues to break voter turnout records, with a historic 3.08 million votes cast in the Nov. 5 presidential election.

As hemp-derived cannabinoid products become more potent and popular, a new proposal would enhance the penalty for their sale and distribution to minors.

House Bill 72, sponsored by State Rep. Dan Howell, R-Cleveland, co-sponsored by State Rep. Lowell Russell, R-Vonore, will create a minimum sentence of 48 consecutive hours in a county jail or workhouse and a fine of not less than $500 for people convicted of selling or distributing hemp-derived cannabinoid products, including THC gummies, to people under 21.

"House Bill 72 will help curb the distribution of these dangerous products and keep them out of schools, where they can inhibit a student’s learning and development," Howell said. "Tennessee Republicans will continue to stand strong for families in our state, and this legislation lets bad actors know that they won’t be able to endanger our children for profit."

Currently, it is a Class A misdemeanor to sell, distribute, or assist minors in getting cannabinoid products, which has no minimum penalty. House Bill 72 ensures no one under the age of 21 is selling or handling products containing a hemp-derived cannabinoid.

As part of Republican efforts to save unborn babies from the horror of abortion, one bill seeks to crack down on the illegal distribution of dangerous life-ending pills like mifepristone and misoprostol.

House Bill 26, sponsored by State Rep. Gino Bulso, R-Brentwood, would help prevent the senseless loss of human life by providing a civil cause of action against abortion pill suppliers for the loss of an unborn child’s life from these dangerous drugs.

"The abortion industry preys on vulnerable young women and is devoted to ending life, not preserving it," Bulso said. "I am committed to empowering mothers and defending unborn children when they need it most. The Unborn Child Protection Act recognizes what common sense and science tell us: Babies in the womb are human beings worthy of love and affection."

The Unborn Child Protection Act will allow families of an unborn child to hold distributors of abortion drugs civilly liable for up to $5 million if used in an abortion in Tennessee. Abortion drugs, including mifepristone and misoprostol, accounted for more than 60% of abortions in the United States in 2023. The mailing of these drugs is already illegal federally and in Tennessee.

A bill would help alleviate the school bus driver shortage across the state by lowering the required minimum age to obtain certification.

House Bill 84, sponsored by State Rep. Mike Sparks, R-Smyrna, will allow qualified drivers 21 and older to drive a school bus. Tennessee currently requires drivers to be at least 25 years old, a requirement stricter than each bordering state.

"Schools in Rutherford County have witnessed a bus driver shortage in recent years that has negatively impacted children, parents and employees," Sparks said. "This legislation will help alleviate the pressure districts face getting quality drivers for bus routes that families rely on while expanding employment opportunities for more Tennesseans."

School districts across the state have faced bus driver shortages in recent years, including those in Rutherford, Wilson, Montgomery, Williamson, Knox and Shelby counties.

House Joint Resolution 17, sponsored by State Rep. Jake McCalmon, R-Franklin, co-sponsored by State Rep. Lowell Russell, R-Vonore, urges the United States Congress to pass the Fair Tax Act of 2023, which would eliminate the personal income tax, alternative minimum tax, inheritance tax, capital gains tax, corporate income tax, self-employment tax, gift tax, and payroll tax in favor of a single national retail sales tax.

Tattoo artists would watch a short video teaching them to recognize signs of human trafficking and how to report it safely to authorities as part of the state’s licensure requirements.

House Joint Resolution 69, sponsored by Health Subcommittee Chairman Brock Martin, R-Huntingdon, outlines several principles and priorities for the General Assembly.

Recommendations to make Tennesseans healthier include:

● Encourage Good Governance: Eliminate conflicts of interest in regulatory agencies like the FDA and USDA; ban harmful toxins; streamline the FDA’s approval process to encourage better healthcare; ensure state schools and government offices serve nutritious food and offer wellness programs to reduce costs and boost productivity.

Tennessee is ranked 44th in the nation for overall health and physical inactivity, and 46th for obesity, according to a 2023 report by America’s Health Rankings. The report also found concerning trends in chronic conditions and premature death across the nation.

House Bill 134, sponsored by, State Rep. Elaine Davis, R-Knoxville, would prohibit any public or public charter school from serving or selling any food or beverage items that contain Allura Red AC, or Red 40, an artificial food dye.

five U.S. children is obese, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The obesity rate among Tennessee’s children averages slightly higher at 22.7%.