NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A bill up for a vote at the state legislature that deals with companies that hire illegal immigrants is causing heated opinions.

Related: Video | Special Section: Immigration In America

State lawmakers said employers across Tennessee are hiring illegal immigrants and getting away with it. A recent Channel 4 I-team investigation highlighted the issue.

Currently there are federal laws on the books to deal with the issue, but the state Senate wants to increase the penalties in Tennessee.

Senate Bill 202 would allow the state to take away a business' license and even ban them from doing business in the state, if they repeatedly hire undocumented workers.

"If you lose your license for six months because you hire illegal immigrants and the Department of Labor will be required to go in and check businesses who employ them, I think that's teeth," said Republican Sen. Bill Ketron of Murfreesboro.

There is a difference in opinion from Yuri Cunza of the Nashville Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

He said the government needs to pay attention to the laws already on the books.

"Otherwise, we're pretty much saying the laws that exist are not to be enforced, nobody cares to learn about them," said Cunza.

Another concern by opponents is racial profiling because they fear qualified job-seekers will be rejected because of their looks.

"It's going to create a natural tendency to be safe. Nobody wants to be fined. No business owner wants to be shut down," said Cunza.

A debate and vote could take place as soon as Thursday morning.

State lawmakers are tweaking the bill, and it's likely that there will be some changes on its final form when it's presented.