House majority leader William Lambers is asking the U.S. Department of Education for guidance on a bill that would limit undocumented immigrant students from enrolling in K-12 schools. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)

On the final day of the 2025 legislative conference, Tennessee officials asked the U.S. Department of Education whether they are at risk by a bill that restricts undocumented immigrant students from enrolling in K-12 schools.

Bojan Savik, the state’s director of the Financial Review Office, wrote to U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon on Monday to determine whether the state could lose $1.1 billion in federal funds if Congress passes a bill that would check school districts for child citizenship status and force school districts to pay tuition fees for registered users.

Wanting a quick turnaround, House majority leader William Lambers spoke to the observation deck on Monday, looking to know if the money is in danger before the expected session ends on Tuesday.

The bill he sponsors, HB793, has been hit by obstacles due to the financial questions surrounding it, and may be delayed until 2026 despite passing the Senate. Financial analysis of the fiscal review says that funds could be at risk as federal law prohibits discrimination.

“We fully believe that with the passage of House Bill 793/Senate Bill 836, the Trump administration will not withhold federal dollars from our schools,” Lambers said. “But from the abundant attention, we want to be extremely careful before we move forward to ensure that federal taxpayer dollars are not at risk. Our first obligation is to legally prioritize public dollars for students in the United States.

The Legislative House edition provides options for checking whether the district has permanent legal documents to its students.

Stump Stock: Tennessee immigrant student bills lose momentum

The federal government’s Title VI prohibits discrimination based on the race, color, or national origin of programs that receive federal funds, and breaching the law could put federal funds at risk. These deal with all student success laws, the disability laws, the Carl Perkins laws, and school nutrition.

Lamberth declined on Monday to confirm that the bill could die that year. Lookout reported last week that the bill could die that year, mainly due to financial questions.

According to a Chattanooga TV report, Republican Sen. Botson, a Hixon Republican, who had felt considerable pressure from opponents of the bill, said he felt considerable pressure from opponents of the bill.

The bill is designed to pass courts and challenge the 1982 U.S. Supreme Court decision.