Protect Privacy in Education and Public Services

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Tennessee lawmakers are taking up SB 2108/HB 1711, legislation that would require schools, healthcare providers, social service agencies, and other public institutions to collect and report sensitive personal information from residents, including their immigration status. Regardless of immigration status, forcing public services to disclose sensitive information about their participants is a violation of everyone's privacy.

The dangers of SB 2108/HB 1711 are clear. It would:

Violate everyone's privacy: This bill would require people to disclose personal information when accessing public services. No one should have to bring a birth certificate every time they go to the doctor. Not only is this practice burdensome, it also violates longstanding laws such as HIPPA and FERPA, which protect private information from being disclosed.
Drain resources from the economy: The bill, as an unfunded mandate, is expensive in terms of financial cost, time, and capacity from already strained public service sectors. Recent research estimates that it will cost $55 million for schools across all districts in Tennessee to track the immigration status of every student enrolled, let alone the costs that would be imposed across other sectors included in this legislation. Please note: This link will take you to a third-party website, immresearch.org.
Allow unchecked, dangerous government overreach: History has shown what happens when similar "show your papers" laws and policies are set in place around the world – people stop seeking care, leaving all of our communities less healthy and safe. In a nation that prides itself on freedom and dignity, these types of practices set a dangerous precedent.

The recipient:

Your State Senator and State Representative

The message:

The dangers of SB 2108/HB 1711 are clear. It would:

Violate everyone's privacy: This bill would require people to disclose personal information when accessing public services. No one should have to bring a birth certificate every time they go to the doctor. Not only is this practice burdensome, it also violates longstanding laws such as HIPPA and FERPA, which protect private information from being disclosed.
Drain resources from the economy: The bill, as an unfunded mandate, is expensive in terms of financial cost, time, and capacity from already strained public service sectors. Recent research estimates that it will cost $55 million for schools across all districts in Tennessee to track the immigration status of every student enrolled, let alone the costs that would be imposed across other sectors included in this legislation. Please note: This link will take you to a third-party website, immresearch.org.
Allow unchecked, dangerous government overreach: History has shown what happens when similar "show your papers" laws and policies are set in place around the world – people stop seeking care, leaving all of our communities less healthy and safe. In a nation that prides itself on freedom and dignity, these types of practices set a dangerous precedent.

The recipient:

Your State Senator and State Representative

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Your Message

Subject Vote "NO" on SB 2108/HB 1711

I urge you to vote "NO" on SB 2108/HB 1711, which would require public institutions to participate in a costly procedure to track everyone’s immigration status.

Message Body

This bill would place a significant economic strain on our state by diverting critical resources away from essential services in schools, hospitals, and other public institutions and into complex data tracking requirements. As an unfunded mandate, it would impose substantial costs in terms of money, time, and capacity on already overburdened public service providers – many of whom are not trained to assess or verify immigration status. For example, a recent research report estimates that implementing these requirements would cost approximately $55 million across all school districts, which are already facing increasingly tight budget constraints.

As a Tennessean who believes in freedom, this bill is also a violation of everyone’s privacy, regardless of their immigration status. We all deserve safety, healthcare, access to public education, and basic dignity. Requiring individuals to disclose sensitive information to receive basic services sets a dangerous precedent for the social and economic well-being of our state.

I urge you to vote "NO" on SB 2108/HB 1711. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

[First Name] [Last Name]

[Your Address]

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Protect Privacy in Education and Public Services

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