House Bill 609, sponsored by Rudd, amends Tennessee law to address the legal standing of unauthorized aliens in civil actions. The bill introduces a new section to Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 20, Chapter 1, defining "unauthorized alien" as a person unlawfully present in the United States according to the federal Immigration and Nationality Act. It stipulates that, notwithstanding any other laws, unauthorized aliens do not have the standing to commence or appear as plaintiffs in any civil action within the state.

This legislation aims to clarify the legal status of unauthorized aliens in Tennessee's civil court system, effectively barring them from initiating or participating in lawsuits. The bill is set to take effect immediately upon becoming law, emphasizing the urgency of the public welfare in this matter.