Florida Senate - 2026 SB By Senator Martin 33-00741-26 20261278__ CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. A bill to be entitled

An act relating to employment eligibility; amending s. 2 448.095, F.S.; requiring that all private employers, 3 rather than only those employing more than a specified number of employees, use the E-Verify system to verify a new employee’s employment eligibility beginning on a specified date; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; providing an effective date. 8

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 10

Section 1. Paragraph

(

b) of subsection (2) of

section 12 448.095, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 13 448.095 Employment eligibility.— 14

(2) EMPLOYMENT VERIFICATION.— 15 (b)1. A public agency shall use the E-Verify system to verify a new employee’s employment eligibility as required under paragraph (a). 18 2. Beginning on July 1, 2026 2023, a private employer with 19 or more employees shall use the E-Verify system to verify a new employee’s employment eligibility as required under paragraph (a). 22 3. Each employer required to use the E-Verify system under this paragraph must certify on its first return each calendar year to the tax service provider that it is in compliance with this

section when making contributions to or reimbursing the state’s unemployment compensation or reemployment assistance system. An employer that voluntarily uses the E-Verify system may also make such a certification on its first return each Florida Senate - 2026 SB 1278 33-00741-26 20261278__ CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. calendar year in order to document such use. 30

Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026. 31