House committee temporarily halts bill that would punish state’s sanctuary cities

NASHVILLE — A bill that would financially punish any city in Tennessee that became a sanctuary city and mandate local law enforcement detain certain immigrants was temporarily defeated in a House committee Monday.

The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Jay Reedy, R-Erin, was initially defeated with a controversial voice vote when it was taken up in the House finance committee.

While presenting the bill, Reedy said the measure was simply to provide “teeth” to a law already on the books in Tennessee that prohibits sanctuary cities.

Reedy made no mention of an aspect of the bill that requires law enforcement officials in Tennessee to comply with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainers.

Such federal detainers ask local officials to detain immigrants for purposes of deportation.

While the committee was discussing the bill, Rep. Patsy Hazlewood, R-Signal Mountain, expressed concern about the financial impact of the measure. The legislation aimed to halt state aid to governments that try to move toward becoming sanctuary cities.

Hazlewood asked that the bill be sent to the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations for further study.

Committee chairman Rep. Charles Sargent, R-Franklin, deemed a voice vote to be in favor of sending the bill to TACIR.

Immediately after the voice vote, committee members including House Majority

Leader Glen Casada and the chamber’s GOP caucus chairman, Ryan Williams, could be seen talking to colleagues as other bills were under consideration. Others, including legislative attorney Doug Himes, conferred behind Sargent’s seat.

During a brief recess, Rep. David Hawk said there was some confusion over what happened with Reedy’s bill.

When the committee reconvened, a motion was made to reconsider the initial vote. The motion resulted in yet another vote — this time in favor of taking up the bill once again — thus giving the measure new life.

It was not immediately clear when the House finance committee will meet to take up Reedy’s bill and others before the session adjourns.