Senate advances sprawling immigrant‑rights bill after marathon debate and many amendments

Senator Steven Gonzales, prime sponsor of Senate Bill 276, opened a long floor debate on a bill that would restrict some forms of local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and tighten limits on access to personal records by outside agencies. The Senate adopted a series of amendments in committee and on the floor and advanced the measure for further consideration after the committee of the whole report was adopted.

Supporters said the bill clarifies protections for people who lack lawful immigration status, limits non‑warranted data sharing by government, and creates procedures for schools, childcare centers and health facilities to follow when federal immigration authorities seek access. “Do you believe that the Constitution protects us all?” Senator Gonzales asked at the start of his remarks, calling for state rules that shield residents’ rights regardless of immigration status.

Opponents and some legal experts pressed hard on constitutional and practical problems. “A civil immigration detainer is not a warrant,” said Senator Weissman, urging colleagues that holding people solely on ICE requests risks Fourth Amendment violations. Multiple…