summary
Introduced
02/17/2025
02/17/2025
In Committee
02/28/2025
02/28/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2025 Regular Session
Bill Summary
An act relating to immigration; amending s. 20.60, F.S.; revising the duties and responsibilities of the Office of Economic Accountability and Transparency within the Department of Commerce; amending s. 448.09, F.S.; revising penalties, including suspension and revocation of certain licenses and the imposition of fines, for violating provisions related to employing unauthorized aliens; requiring that such fines be deposited into a specified trust fund; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; providing increased penalties, including suspension and revocation of certain licenses and the imposition of fines, for violating provisions related to employing unauthorized aliens where specified injury or death occurs; requiring that such fines be deposited into a specified trust fund; amending s. 448.095, F.S.; revising the definition of the term “employee”; requiring that all private employers, rather than only those employing a specified number or more of employees, use the E-Verify system to verify a new employee’s employment eligibility; prohibiting the awarding of future public contracts by any public agency in this state to specified contractors; requiring that certain fines be deposited into a specified trust fund; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; amending s. 908.104, F.S.; authorizing law enforcement agencies to use the E Verify system to investigate a detained person’s immigration status; providing an effective date.
AI Summary
This bill proposes significant changes to Florida's immigration and employment verification laws, focusing on stricter enforcement of employment eligibility and penalties for hiring unauthorized aliens. The bill requires all private employers to use the E-Verify system (an online employment verification tool) starting July 1, 2025, expanding the current requirement that only applied to employers with 25 or more employees. The legislation introduces escalating penalties for employers who hire unauthorized aliens, including license suspensions and substantial fines that would be deposited into the Florida Highway Patrol Safety Operating Trust Fund. For first-time violations, employers could face license suspension and fines up to $10,000; subsequent violations could result in 5-year license suspensions and fines up to $50,000. The bill includes even more severe penalties if an unauthorized alien employee causes injury or death, with potential license revocations and fines ranging from $100,000 to $500,000. Additionally, the bill expands the definition of "employee" to include occasional or irregular labor exceeding 40 person-hours and allows law enforcement agencies to use E-Verify to investigate a detained person's immigration status. The Department of Commerce will be responsible for administering and enforcing these new employment authorization compliance measures, with the ability to impose fines and license suspensions for non-compliance.
Sponsors (3)
Last Action
Indefinitely postponed and withdrawn from consideration (on 05/03/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/782 |
| BillText | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/782/BillText/Filed/HTML |
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