This bill allows local education agencies and public charter schools in Tennessee to deny enrollment to students who are in the country unlawfully. It seeks to amend existing state laws related to education and immigration status. Essentially, it aims to ensure that only students with legal status can attend these schools.
Supporters of the bill argue that it upholds the rule of law and protects educational resources for legal residents. They believe it helps ensure that public education benefits those who are legally in the country and promotes accountability within the education system.
Critics of the bill contend that it unfairly targets vulnerable children and denies them access to education based on their immigration status. They argue that this could lead to increased inequality and hinder the ability of children to contribute positively to society in the future.
The potential conflict of interest in this case primarily revolves around William Lamberth's role as a board member of Volunteer State Community College. The bill HB0793, which allows LEAs and public charter schools to refuse enrollment to students unlawfully present in the United States, intersects with the education sector. While Volunteer State Community College is a higher education institution and not directly affected by K-12 enrollment policies, Lamberth's involvement in the education sector could suggest an indirect alignment of interests. Additionally, his spouse's employment with Sumner County Schools, although not directly related to the bill's impact, adds a layer of potential influence in educational policy matters. However, there is no direct financial gain evident from the bill's passage for Lamberth, as his roles in the education sector do not directly benefit from changes in K-12 enrollment policies.
Unlike federal analysis based on campaign donations, state analysis examines legislators' personal financial interests — their jobs, businesses, and investments.
| Type | Description | Industry | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Occupation | Attorney | Lawyers/Law Firms | AI-researched |
| Employer | Partner at Lamberth, Cifelli, Ellis & Nason, P.A. | — | TN Legislature bio |
| Business Owner | Owner of Lamberth Consulting | — | AI-researched |
| Board Member | Board Member of Sumner County CASA | — | TN Legislature bio |
| Spouse Employer | Spouse employed by Sumner County Schools | — | AI-researched |
| Employer | STATE OF TN | Government | TN Ethics Commission |
| Employer | SELF EMPLOYED ATTORNEY | Lawyers/Law Firms | TN Ethics Commission |
| Business Owner | PORTLAND COMMUNITY CHAIRMAN from Jan 2026 to current | — | TN Ethics Commission |
| Business Owner | UNITED WAY SUMNER CO BOARD MEMBER from Jan 2026 to current | — | TN Ethics Commission |
| Business Owner | VOLUNTEER STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD MEMBER from Jan 2026 to current | Education | TN Ethics Commission |
| Occupation | Law, GENERAL PRACTICE OF LAW | — | TN Ethics Commission |
| Occupation | Law, STATE OF TN | — | TN Ethics Commission |
| Asset | Leadership PAC: LAMBERTH PAC | — | TN Ethics Commission |
Items marked "AI-researched" are generated from public sources but have not been independently verified. Verified data is sourced from official legislature websites and disclosure filings.
About This Analysis
This summary was generated using AI from the bill's official text and metadata. Data sourced from LegiScan and the Tennessee General Assembly. Conflict analysis examines the sponsor's personal financial interests for potential overlaps with the bill's subject matter.
TN HB0793