Rep. Berny Jacques has refiled legislation for the 2026 Session that would require all private employers to use E-Verify to ensure employees are legally authorized to work in the United States.

The legislation (HB 197) is identical to a bill from last Session (HB 955) that cleared the House but died in the Senate.

The current law, passed in 2023, requires private businesses with more than 25 employees to use the program, which screens workers for employment eligibility. In addition to extending that requirement to all private employers, Jacques’ bill would also require businesses to verify they are in compliance with the law on the first tax return of the calendar year.

“We have seen so many instances where businesses subvert the law to avoid investing in American workers,” Jacques said. “It is common sense that employees working for businesses in Florida be legally authorized to work in the United States.”

Through E-Verify, the Department of Homeland Security works with the Social Security Administration to confirm if someone is legally authorized to work in the United States.

Jacques said presenting his previous bill that using the federal government’s E-Verify tool does not cost anything for employers when they submit their workers’ names, Social Security numbers and addresses, which is information bosses should already have on hand, he said.

A Senate companion has not yet been filed.

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