Democratic State Senator Jason Pizzo has introduced Senate Bill 782, aiming to mandate the use of the E-Verify system for all Florida employers, irrespective of their size. This proposal seeks to expand upon existing legislation, which currently requires only employers with 25 or more employees to utilize E-Verify for verifying the employment eligibility of new hires.
Senator Pizzo announced his bill on X (formerly Twitter) February 18, 2025, urging, “My bill requiring all Florida employers use E-Verify is up – encourage your State Senator to join as a co-sponsor.” Despite the Republican Party’s traditional advocacy for stringent immigration controls, no Republican legislators have co-sponsored the bill, leaving Senator Pizzo without bipartisan support.
The proposed legislation aims to address the significant portion of Florida’s economy comprising small businesses; approximately 87% of Florida companies have fewer than 20 employees. By extending the E-Verify requirement to all employers, the bill intends to close existing loopholes that may allow unauthorized workers to gain employment, thereby strengthening immigration enforcement across the state.
