Employment Eligibility

Labor

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Jacques ; Michael ; (CO-INTRODUCERS) Barnaby ; Miller
Last action: 2026-03-13
Official status: Senate - Died in Rules
Effective date: 2026-07-01

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and text do not provide information about annual certification requirements for compliance.

Employment Eligibility Verification

This bill requires all private employers in Florida to use the E-Verify system to check new employees' eligibility for employment starting on July 1, 2026.

What This Bill Does

Changes the law so that all private employers must use E-Verify when hiring new workers.

Who It Names or Affects

All private employers in Florida
New hires at these businesses

Terms To Know

E-Verify: A system used by employers to check if a person is eligible to work in the United States.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what happens if an employer fails to comply with this requirement.
It only applies to private businesses, not government jobs.

Bill History

2026-03-13 Senate
• Died in Rules
2026-01-22 Senate
• Received
2026-01-16 Senate
• Referred to Rules
2026-01-15 House
• Read 2nd time • Added to Third Reading Calendar • Read 3rd time • Passed; YEAS 80, NAYS 30
2026-01-15 Senate
• In Messages
2026-01-13 House
• 1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
2026-01-12 House
• Bill added to Special Order Calendar (1/15/2026)
2025-12-11 House
• Favorable by Commerce Committee • Reported out of Commerce Committee • Bill released to House Calendar
2025-12-04 House
• Added to Commerce Committee agenda
2025-11-05 House
• Favorable by Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee • Reported out of Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee • Now in Commerce Committee
2025-10-28 House
• Added to Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee agenda
2025-10-21 House
• Referred to Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee • Referred to Commerce Committee • Now in Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee
2025-10-16 House
• Filed

Official Summary Text

Employment Eligibility ; Requires that all private employers, rather than only those employing more than specified number of employees, use E-Verify system to verify new employee's employment eligibility beginning on specified date.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB 197 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb197-00
Page 1 of 2
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to employment eligibility; amending s. 2
448.095, F.S.; requiring that all private employers, 3
rather than only those employing more than a specified 4
number of employees, use the E-Verify system to verify 5
a new employee's employment eligibility beginning on a 6
specified date; providing an effective date. 7
8
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 9
10
Section 1. Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section 11
448.095, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 12
448.095 Employment eligibility.— 13
(2) EMPLOYMENT VERIFICATION.— 14
(b)1. A public agency shall use the E-Verify system to 15
verify a new employee's employment eligibility as required under 16
paragraph (a). 17
2. Beginning on July 1, 2026 2023, a private employer with 18
25 or more employees shall use the E-Verify system to verify a 19
new employee's employment eligibility as required under 20
paragraph (a). 21
3. Each employer required to use the E-Verify system under 22
this paragraph must certify on its first return each calendar 23
year to the tax service provider that it is in compliance with 24
this section when making contributions to or reimbursing the 25

HB 197 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb197-00
Page 2 of 2
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

state's unemployment compensation or reemployment assistance 26
system. An employer that voluntarily uses the E-Verify system 27
may also make such a certification on its first return each 28
calendar year in order to document such use. 29
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026. 30