Georgia OCGA §50-36-1 requires public contractors to use E-Verify and OCGA §36-60-6 mandates private employers with more than 10 workers verify new hires through E-Verify, with documentation required for business license renewal.
Georgia maintains one of the nation's strictest E-Verify regimes. OCGA §50-36-1 requires all state and local government agencies plus their contractors to verify the federal employment eligibility of new hires using the federal E-Verify system. OCGA §36-60-6 extends the mandate to private employers with more than 10 employees, requiring an affidavit of E-Verify compliance be submitted with city or county business license applications and renewals (the occupation tax certificate). Atlanta enforces this at issuance and renewal of every Chapter 30 occupation tax certificate. House Bill 1105 (2024) further requires local jails to honor ICE detainers, separate from the E-Verify employment piece. Federal contractors face additional FAR-based E-Verify rules.
Failure to file the E-Verify affidavit blocks issuance or renewal of an Atlanta business license. Knowingly hiring unauthorized workers can lead to state felony charges under OCGA §16-9-121 and federal employer sanctions.
Atlanta, GA
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See how Atlanta's e-verify mandates rules stack up against other locations.
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