Bill to force all private Florida employers to do immigration checks moves forward

November 6, 2025

Even as Gov. Ron DeSantis has pushed for Florida to be the most aggressive state in assisting the federal government with immigration enforcement, state law still allows hundreds of thousands of companies to skip doing an E-Verify check.

In Florida, private companies with fewer than 25 employees don't need to use the federal database that confirms an employee's immigration status.

On Wednesday, a state House committee moved forward a bill that would require all private employers to use the screening program, closing what some lawmakers have called a loophole.

There is no matching legislation in the Senate so far this session, but Jacques said he is in talks with senators.

During the Wednesday committee meeting, Jacques noted that small businesses already have to collect an employee's I-9 form, which is meant to verify employment eligibility.

"When you drill down to it, this simply enforces the law," Jacques said.

The bulk of private businesses in Florida have fewer than 25 employees. About 476,000 businesses in Florida have 19 employees or fewer, according to a 2025 report from the U.S. Small Business Administration. About 42,000 businesses have 20 or more employees.

When DeSantis first ran for office in 2018, he promised to pass E-Verify legislation.