Latest news with #HouseBill793
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ethics Commission dismisses complaint against Republican rep.; threatens complainants with penalties
An ethics complaint against Clarksville Republican Rep. Aron Maberry was dismissed by the Tennessee Ethics Commission on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (Photo: John Partipilo) The Tennessee Ethics Commission on Tuesday unanimously threw out a complaint against a Montgomery County Republican representative and admonished those who filed it after determining that the commission lacked authority to consider the case. The complaint, filed April 3 by a group of current and former educators in Montgomery County, said Clarksville Republican Rep. Aron Maberry's actions as a state representative violated his oath as a sitting Clarksville Montgomery County School Board member. The complaint cites Maberry's vote in favor of House Bill 793 — which would allow school districts and charter schools to refuse to enroll students without permanent legal documentation — as a breach of his 'duty to provide equal education opportunities and to refrain from using his position for partisan gain.' The measure itself is on hold over concerns that its contradiction of the U.S. Supreme Court's 1982 Plyler v. Doe ruling guaranteeing all children access to public education could result in Tennessee schools losing federal funding. In an expedited hearing Tuesday morning, Commission Chair Tammy White said she was 'extremely disturbed' that the press obtained copies of the complaint before it was filed with the commission. She also warned the complainants that filing 'unsubstantiated complaints' could result in civil penalties against them. 'This body was not created to be used as a political pawn for headlines,' White said. 'There should be serious repercussions for those who act in such a manner as this. And while I do applaud everyone's political involvement and passion, matters like today should and can be resolved at the local ballot box.' Tuesday's special-called hearing, which would typically be confidential, was open to the public at Maberry's request. The committee's next regularly scheduled meeting is in August, which the commission deemed too far in the future to allow a complaint of this nature to go undecided. Bill Young, the commission's executive director, characterized the complaints as 'policy disagreements' and said staff determined that the commission did not have jurisdiction to decide qualifications for office or compliance with the ethics codes of local bodies. The constitutionality of policy is litigated in court, he said. The Tennessee constitution does not prohibit individuals from serving as both a state representative and a school board member. Commission Secretary Duane Gilbert said the complaint was a 'colossal waste of time, the state's resources and employees.' The commission considered calling for a show-cause hearing to determine whether the complainants should be penalized for filing the complaint, but ultimately decided against it. White and Commission member Stacey Floyd-Thomas said they did not want this complaint to set a precedent for others. 'Any further action in this manner would necessitate a show-cause hearing' where the complainants would be asked to show why their actions should not be considered reckless disregard, Floyd-Thomas said. Joy Rice, a member of the group that filed the complaint, said she was 'shocked' at the commission's response. 'I didn't realize I would have to bring an attorney with me to an ethics complaint,' she said. 'I think … it's a bullying tactic to make sure that nobody else complains.' Rice said the complaint was not based on Maberry serving in two seats, but rather that 'what he's doing in one seat affects the other one.' 'He took an oath for the Code of Ethics in the school board capacity to represent all children, and then he went to the state and immediately … attempted to pass legislation that went in direct violation of that,' Rice said. Karen Reynolds, who also signed the complaint, said she was encouraged by a school board member to file the ethics complaint with the state because the school board lacks a formal ethics complaint policy. 'That's a lot of bullying up there, considering that basically they said they didn't have jurisdiction,' Reynolds said. 'We knew we would hit that wall, but I guess we didn't expect — basically they tried to silence us by saying, get a lawyer or shut up.' Maberry, who was also present at the hearing, said he was grateful for the commission's decision on what he says is a 'partisan attack' against him led by someone who he believes is 'trying to stay politically relevant in the community.' Reynolds, a Democrat, ran for the District 22 Tennessee Senate seat in 2024 but lost to Republican Bill Powers. 'Education and protecting CMCSS was the core reason that I ran for state senate, so I'm still going to stand up and do what I think is right for our schools and our children and our community,' Reynolds said. Reynolds and Rice said their group will consider other paths available to them to pursue the complaint. Maberry said every decision he's made on the school board is 'to better our public schools,' and his constituents at the state level voted him into office knowing that he intended to keep his school board seat. He does not plan to resign from the school board. 'I believe the message was sent clearly to Tennessee that if you're going to come after somebody that's duly elected and make up complaints against them, that you yourself need to make sure that it's an actual complaint, because you could be breaking state law,' he said.
NBC News
22-04-2025
- Politics
- NBC News
Tennessee pauses bill targeting right to education regardless of immigration status
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Republican lawmakers in Tennessee have paused a bill meant to challenge the constitutional right for children to attend public schools regardless of their immigration status. Instead, with time waning in the legislative session, they are asking U.S. officials for guidance on whether the bill would jeopardize federal education funding. The direction announced Monday by House Majority Leader William Lamberth, the bill sponsor, diminishes the chances for the bill to pass this year as lawmakers prepare for a likely adjournment this week. The Tennessee Journal first reported on Lamberth's decision. Hundreds of children have packed the Tennessee Capitol this year to oppose the bill that takes aim at the protection established by the landmark 1982 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Plyler v. Doe. That decades-old decision struck down a Texas law that sought to deny enrollment to any student not 'legally admitted' into the country. The Republican-controlled Tennessee Senate has already passed a version of the bill, which would require proof of legal residence to enroll in public K-12 public schools and would give school districts the option — but not the requirement — of turning away students who fail to provide proper documentation or to charge them tuition. The House version, which remains idle in a subcommittee, differs by letting public schools check immigration status, rather than requiring it. Lamberth noted that Tennessee receives approximately $1.1 billion in federal education money annually. 'We fully trust the Trump Administration will not withhold federal dollars from our schools due to the passage of House Bill 793/Senate Bill 836,' Lamberth said. 'However, out of an abundance of caution, we want to be exceptionally careful before we move forward to ensure no federal taxpayer dollars are at risk.' A growing number of conservative leaders are pushing states to overturn Plyler v. Doe — including the conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation. Tennessee's Republican lawmakers were among the most aggressive in pursuing the idea that directly contradicts Supreme Court precedent. Proponents of the bill have largely downplayed denying children the right to education, but instead have focused on the fiscal impact states are facing in educating children residing in the U.S. illegally. However, it's unclear whether the bill would result in any savings. In opposition, student have broken down in tears in front of legislative committees, distraught over their classmates being removed from their school and worries over who might be next. Some advocates applauded Monday's news but cautioned the bill isn't dead until lawmakers gavel out for the year. 'What's undeniable is this: lawmakers have been forced to acknowledge the overwhelming, bipartisan opposition from across the state to targeting children and denying them an education,' said Lisa Sherman Luna, executive director of the Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition. Lawmakers and other conservative supporters repeatedly point to the 5-4 vote that determined Plyler in 1982, arguing that the narrow margin means there's a better chance the precedent could be overturned by the current Supreme Court. Notably, the court has overturned the right to abortion.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Tennessee asks feds whether state funds are jeopardized by immigrant student bill
House Majority Leader William Lamberth, right, has asked the U.S. Department of Education for guidance on a bill that would restrict undocumented immigrant students from enrolling in K-12 schools. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout) In the final days of the 2025 legislative session, Tennessee officials are asking the U.S. Department of Education whether federal funds are being jeopardized by a bill that would restrict undocumented immigrant students from enrolling in K-12 schools. The state's Fiscal Review Executive Director Bojan Savic sent a letter Monday to U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon to determine whether the state could lose $1.1 billion in federal funds if the legislature passes bills that could force school districts to check the citizenship status of children and force them to pay tuition to enroll. Hoping for a quick turnaround, House Majority Leader William Lamberth told the Lookout Monday he requested the letter because he wants to know whether the money is at risk before the end of the session, which is expected to be Tuesday. The bill he is sponsoring, HB793, hit a roadblock, in part because of financial questions surrounding it and could be delayed until 2026, even though it passed the Senate. The Fiscal Review financial analysis says the funds could be in jeopardy because of federal laws prohibiting discrimination. 'We fully trust the Trump Administration will not withhold federal dollars from our schools due to the passage of House Bill 793/Senate Bill 836,' Lamberth said. 'However, out of an abundance of caution, we want to be exceptionally careful before we move forward to ensure no federal taxpayer dollars are at risk. Our first obligation is to prioritize public dollars for students lawfully in the United States. The last thing we want to do is cause our schools to be further drained of much-needed resources.' The House version of the legislation would give school districts the option to check students to determine whether they have permanent legal documentation, differing from the Senate version, which would require districts to check students' immigration status and require tuition. Stockard on the Stump: Tennessee immigrant student bill losing momentum Federal Title VI prohibits discrimination based on race, color or national origins in programs that receive federal funds, and violating the law could put the federal funds in danger. Those deal with the Every Student Succeeds Act, the Individuals with Disabilities Act, Carl Perkins Act and school nutrition. Lamberth declined Monday to confirm that the bill could be dead for the year. The Lookout reported last week that the bill could be dead for the year, mainly because of financial questions. Republican Sen. Bo Watson of Hixson, who has been feeling considerable pressure from opponents of the bill, said he would consider seeking a compromise on the measure, according to a Chattanooga TV report. The bill is designed to go through the courts and challenge the 1982 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Plyler v. Doe that required school districts to education students regardless of their immigration status. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
I was an undocumented student. I'm going to be a doctor. Keep education a right.
On my way into the hospital recently, a headline caught my eye. It stated that the Tennessee Senate passed a bill that would end the right to education as we know it. Threatening to challenge a SCOTUS decision from 1982 that guaranteed education to all children, Senate Bill 836 and its accompanying House Bill 793 would ultimately allow schools to limit educational access to students with an undocumented status. Locking my phone away and walking in to see my patients, it struck me that under this bill I would not be here today. My family and I immigrated to Middle Tennessee when I was only 3 years old. Drawn to the state for its natural beauty and warm welcoming community, we decided to make Tennessee our home. Though we were new to the state, Murfreesboro embraced us and made this new land feel like home. It is here where I learned to read and count and work hard. It is here where I learned to believe that my life meant something. It is here where I learned about the American Dream. Though I was undocumented throughout the entirety of my youth, my teachers never saw a legal status – they saw a boy who was excited to learn. Although my path after grade school may have been uncertain, they instilled a belief within me that I could forge a way forward. Together, from kindergarten to high school, we did just that. With their dedication and my perseverance, a path forward began forming before us. Eventually, I gained my citizenship and am now just weeks away from becoming Dr. Gudiño-Rosales, the first physician in my family. Opinion: Tennessee lawmakers back immigration bill that creates a permanent underclass However, had HB793/SB836 existed when I was a child, we would not have forged that path. I would not have made it through grade school, and I would not be wearing a white coat today. Sponsors of these bills cite various reasons as justification for this legislation including limited financial resources. Despite their claims, there is no evidence that denying undocumented students access to education would save the state any money. Instead, as over 20 Tennessee businesses have expressed, barring these students from public schools could cost Tennessee millions in federal funding. Furthermore, restricting access to education threatens to jeopardize recent gains in student outcomes. These improvements are proof that investing in every child in Tennessee is strategic for the continued excellence of the state. With meaningful support, our students will continue excelling as they become tomorrow's workforce of nurses, educators, and, yes, even doctors. Opinion: Trump's deportations emboldened GOP. But they're going after kids, not criminals That is why as lawmakers continue debating HB793, I urge them to consider the nascent potential of all students but especially the roughly 10,000 undocumented students in Tennessee. While there is agreement in that a consensus must be reached regarding immigration, this bill unfairly targets the most vulnerable individuals affected by this issue. Undocumented students did not choose their immigration status and should not be forced to bear the brunt of the consequences. It has been famously coined that education is the great equalizer in our country, and it is a phrase that has undoubtedly held true for me. However, that truth exists only because the Tennessee education system believed in me. Because of their faith, I now get to take care of people when they are most vulnerable and give back to communities in ways they did for me. Therefore, I ask Tennessee lawmakers to reflect on what we stand for as the Volunteer State and urge them to vote no on HB793. I implore them to leave children out of this immigration issue. Do not close the doors of educational opportunity for students; keep them open and preserve Tennessee's legacy of strength and hope. Santiago Gudiño-Rosales, a proud graduate of Central Magnet School in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, is a senior medical student at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee undocumented students can achieve great success | Opinion
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Murfreesboro City Schools officially opposes bill denying education to undocumented children
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WKRN) — The Murfreesboro City Schools Board of Education stands firm in its opposition to a bill that would deny the right to a free education to undocumented students currently making its way through the Tennessee General Assembly. At its most recent meeting, the school board passed a resolution stating its opposition to HB 793/SB 836, which would authorize public school districts and public charter schools to refuse to enroll students who are 'unlawfully present in the United States.' Critics of the bill say it's an assault on the rights of all children to a free education as provided by the 19892U.S. Supreme Court decision Plyler v. Doe and will lead to lengthy and costly legal challenges. Supporters of the measure say it's already costly for state and local governments to educate undocumented students. READ MORE | Latest headlines from Murfreesboro and Rutherford County 'Currently, the federal government identifies free and reduced lunch, and they will pay to feed the children in our school systems, but under Plyler v. Doe, they put us in a situation where they won't pay for these students that are in our school systems that are causing this undue burden in our state and in states across the country,' Rep. Scott Cepicky (R-Culleoka) said. Murfreesboro City Schools officials said in their resolution the bill demonstrates 'a willingness to use vulnerable children and the school districts that serve them as a vehicle to test well-established constitutional protections.' Further, the resolution states allowing 'discriminatory practices against students solely based on their immigration status creates inequitable educational systems, potentially promotes division within our communities, places school staff in the untenable position of making enrollment inquiries based on immigration status, and conflicts with the mission of Murfreesboro City Schools to assure the academic and personal success for each child.' Neighborhood News: Stories impacting your community | Read More The resolution 'formally opposes House Bill 793/Senate Bill 836 and urges the Tennessee General Assembly to vote to oppose the passage of this bill.' The bill narrowly passed the Tennessee Senate on Thursday morning after a long debate and plenty of protests at the state capitol. The measure now needs to advance out of committee in the House of Representatives and face a full floor vote before it can become law. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
