December 11, 2025 A Florida bill demanding all businesses use a federal database to check employees’ immigration status cleared its final House committee Thursday, despite silence from the Senate.   HB 197, co-sponsored by Republican Reps. Berny Jacques and Kiyan Michael, is one of the few bills the House has fast-tracked without a Senate companion. It would expand a 2023 law championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis to require all employers — not just public businesses and larger private ones — to use...

October 16, 2025 Rep. Berny Jacques is trying again to pass his bill expanding E-Verify compliance to all private employers.   A Florida Republican on Thursday re-filed a bill from last year requiring all private employers to use a federal database verifying whether new hires are legally in the country.   Rep. Berny Jacques, a Seminole Republican, issued HB 197 to mandate all private businesses use E-Verify, a federally operated system allowing employers to electronically verify whether new...

October 16, 2025 More than 50% of Florida’s manufacturing workforce is 45 years or older.   While Florida leads the nation in attracting and developing skilled workers, headwinds are approaching, according to Florida Commerce Secretary Alex Kelly.   Florida is now third in the nation in terms of total manufacturing companies, but only 10th in the number of manufacturing employees, at approximately 430,000. Since 2014, Florida has increased manufacturing employment by 23.3% and, in 2022, the...