Tennessee House Republican leadership could hit an impasse again in 2026 over a measure designed to restrict immigrant student enrollment in public schools.
With the bill on the skids in mid-April at the end of the legislature’s session, House Republican Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland, asked the U.S. Department of Education whether $1.1 billion in federal funds would be jeopardized by his bill, which would enable school districts to check students’ immigration status and charge tuition.
Lamberth had not received a response as of May 19, and whether the House moves forward with the bill in January “depends on the response we receive,” House Republican Caucus spokesperson Jennifer Easton said Monday in response to questions from the Lookout.
The Senate version of the bill passed in this year’s session despite public outcry. But if Lamberth continues to push the measure in 2026 as he said he would, he’s likely to run into a conflict with Rep. Jeremy Faison, chair of the Republican Caucus.