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Protecting Undocumented Student Access to Public Education

March 2, 2026 by EdTrust-Tennessee

Resource

The Tennessee General Assembly is considering multiple bills that threaten access to K-12 public education for all students, regardless of immigration status. Here you can find resources to help you stay informed as these bills move through the legislature. 

The Education for All-Tennessee coalition believes everyone in the U.S. should have the freedom to thrive – to be safe in our communities, to care and provide for our families, and to contribute to our country in our own unique ways. The foundation of that opportunity is access to education.

Bills EdTrust-Tennessee is Tracking

HB793/SB836 would deny access to public schools based on immigration status taking away children’s freedom to learn based on who they are and how they came to call Tennessee home.

HB1711/SB2108 with a proposed amendment, HB1711/SB2108 would force schools to check the immigration status of every student, not just immigrant students. The proposed amendment contains a trigger provision aimed at overturning Plyler and passing HB793/SB836.

Resources

These resources provide a more detailed analysis of the impact of the bills that threaten access to K-12 public education for all students, regardless of immigration status. 

HB793/SB836 Status Update (Feb. 2026)

Introduced in 2025, HB793/SB836 was openly discussed by both sponsors as a vehicle to overturn the Plyler v. Doe precedent, which guarantees all children living in the United States access to free public education regardless of immigration status. Advocacy by thousands of Tennesseans halted the bill’s progress in 2025, but sponsors are bringing it back in 2026.

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Protecting Undocumented Student Access to K-12 Public School (2026)

HB1711/SB2108, sponsored by Rep. Davis and Sen. White, was introduced in 2026. This bill would require schools and higher education institutions to collect immigration documentation from students in order to calculate costs incurred, and schools would have to report undocumented students to law enforcement.

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Protecting Undocumented Student Access to K-12 Public School (2025)

  • SB 836 has passed the Senate; its companion bill HB 793 has been placed behind the budget in the House. Each version has been amended, and the Senate and House versions differ from one another in important ways.
  • Two of the three proposed bills threatening undocumented students’ freedom to learn, HB 746/SB 1044, sponsored by Rep. Fritts and Sen. Bowling, and HB 145/SB 268, sponsored by Rep. Bulso and Sen. Hensley, have been defeated.
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