Bexar County, TX Immigration Policy: E-Verify Mandates (2026)
Key Facts
- Statute
- TX Govt Code 673
- Public sector
- Mandatory
- Contract threshold
- $100,000 plus
- Private employers
- Voluntary
- Form I-9
- Always required
Summary
Under Texas Government Code Section 673, Bexar County agencies, public colleges, and state contractors with seven or more employees must enroll in the federal E-Verify system to confirm the work authorization of new hires.
CHAPTER 673. VERIFICATION OF EMPLOYEE INFORMATION. Sec. 673.001. DEFINITIONS. (1) 'E-verify program' means the electronic verification of employment authorization program of the federal Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (Pub. L. No. 104-208, reprinted in note, 8 U.S.C. Section 1324a), operated by the United States Department of Homeland Security, or a successor employment authorization program designated by the United States Department of Homeland Security. Sec. 673.002. VERIFICATION. A state agency shall register and participate in the E-verify program to verify information of new employees.
Full Breakdown
Texas Government Code Chapter 673, enacted under Senate Bill 1 of 2015, requires every state agency, public institution of higher education, and contractor doing business with such entities under contracts above 100,000 dollars to use the federal E-Verify system. Governor Abbott extended E-Verify by executive order to additional state agency hires. Bexar County, as a unit of local government, applies E-Verify to its own hiring. Private employers in Bexar County are not required by state law to use E-Verify outside of public contracting, though many participate voluntarily. Federal Form I-9 employment eligibility verification still applies to all employers regardless of E-Verify enrollment.
Violations & Fines
Failure of a covered contractor to enroll in or use E-Verify can result in contract termination, debarment from future county procurement, and required repayment of contract funds tied to ineligible hires.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my private Bexar County business need E-Verify?
Can the county audit a contractor's E-Verify use?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bexar County
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Bexar County to another location·View the Texas immigration policy overview
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