Employment Eligibility

Plain English Breakdown

The official metadata states the bill passed both chambers but also lists the last action as 'Died in Rules,' creating uncertainty about whether any version of this text is currently active or if the effective date will ever apply.

Employment Eligibility Verification

This bill proposes to require all private employers in Florida, not just those with a certain number of workers, to use the E-Verify system for new employees starting July 1, 2026.

What This Bill Does

• Changes state law so that every private employer must check work eligibility using E-Verify, instead of only companies with more than a specified number of employees.
• Sets the start date for these rules as July 1, 2026.
• Requires employers who use E-Verify to certify their compliance on their first tax return each year when making unemployment contributions.

Who It Names or Affects

• All private employers in Florida
• New employees hired by these companies

Terms To Know

E-Verify system

A computer program used to check if a new worker is allowed to work.

Employment eligibility

The legal right of a person to hold a job based on their status.

Limits and Unknowns

• Although the bill passed both chambers, its final recorded action was 'Died in Rules,' meaning it did not become law.
• The effective date listed is July 1, 2026, but this only applies if the legislation becomes active.

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

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