By The News Service of Florida
A proposal that would require all Florida private employers to use the federal E-Verify system to check the immigration status of new workers is ready to go to the full House after the 2026 legislative session starts.
The Republican-controlled House Commerce Committee on Thursday voted 16-5 along party lines to approve an E-Verify expansion bill (HB 197), filed by Rep. Berny Jacques, R-Seminole, and Rep. Kiyan Michael, R-Jacksonville. It also was approved last month by the House Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee and is now positioned procedurally to go to the full House.
Under current law, all public employers and private employers with 25 or more workers are required to use E-Verify. The bill would expand that to smaller private employers.
House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell, D-Tampa, said Thursday she was concerned the requirement would be “overly burdensome on our small businesses.”
But supporters of the bill pushed back against such arguments. “It’s a four- or five-minute process to make sure we are in compliance,” said Rep. Brad Yeager, a New Port Richey Republican who said he is a small-business owner. The House passed a similar bill during the 2025 session, but the measure did not get Senate approval. The 2026 session will start Jan. 13.