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Hamilton County lawmakers aim to pass immigration, health bills in 2026

State Rep. Greg Vital, R-Harrison, speaks on the House floor during a legislative session on Jan. 13, 2026, in Nashville. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
State Rep. Greg Vital, R-Harrison, speaks on the House floor during a legislative session on Jan. 13, 2026, in Nashville. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) State Rep. Greg Vital, R-Harrison, speaks on the House floor during a legislative session on Jan. 13, 2026, in Nashville. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

The Tennessee House opened session on Tuesday, with the Senate following on Wednesday, officially reconvening the Tennessee legislature.

There are a number of bills that Hamilton County’s lawmakers have introduced or signed on to sponsor that are slated for the upcoming session. The proposed laws Chattanooga area representatives are pushing for in the 2026 session range from immigration to fluoride.

IMMIGRATION

A newly introduced bill in the Senate, cosponsored by state Sen. Bo Watson, R-North Chattanooga, would make certain immigration enforcement records confidential and not subject to public disclosure by state or local agencies.

The bill falls into the larger focus on immigration enforcement set out by the General Assembly leadership for this year.