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‘I’ve tried everything’: House leader sends last-minute letter to Trump officials amid immigration bill concerns

Democtratic Sen. Jeff Yarbro, of Nashville, talks to a group protesting an immigration bill outside the Senate chamber at the state Capitol Thursday, April 10, 2025 in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis) Democtratic Sen. Jeff Yarbro, of Nashville, talks to a group protesting an immigration bill outside the Senate chamber at the state Capitol Thursday, April 10, 2025 in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)

By Sarah Dolgin April 22, 2025 6 min read

In the final moments of the legislative session, lawmakers hit the brakes on an immigration bill to ask the U.S. secretary of education whether the bill’s passage would cost Tennessee over $1 billion in federal education funding.

Senate Bill 836, legislation that would allow schools to deny unauthorized students a public education, was carried by state Sen. Bo Watson, R-North Chattanooga, and passed the state Senate in early April. As of Monday morning, Watson was ready to see the bill to the finish line.

By Monday evening, House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland, the House sponsor, paused the bill due to last-minute concerns over the “other fiscal impact” listed in the bill’s fiscal note.

‘I’ve tried everything’: House leader sends last-minute letter to Trump officials amid immigration bill concerns

Demonstrators hold up signs protesting an immigration bill as it is discussed in the Senate chamber at the state Capitol Thursday, April 10, 2025 in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)

“The proposed legislation may jeopardize federal funding to the state and to local governments,” the note said. “However, due to multiple unknown factors, the extent and timing of any decrease in federal funding cannot be determined with certainty.”