Tampa, FL Immigration Policy: E-Verify Mandates (2026)
Key Facts
- State law
- FS 448.095
- Threshold
- 25+ employees
- Effective
- July 2023
- Daily fine
- $1,000
Summary
Florida Statute 448.095 (2023) requires every Tampa private employer with 25 or more employees to use the federal E-Verify system for all new hires. Failure to comply can suspend business licenses and trigger 1,000 dollar daily fines.
448.095 Employment eligibility. — [...] (2) EMPLOYMENT VERIFICATION. — (a) An employer shall verify each new employee's employment eligibility within 3 business days after the first day that the new employee begins working for pay as required under 8 C.F.R. s. 274a. (b)1. A public agency shall use the E-Verify system to verify a new employee's employment eligibility as required under paragraph (a). 2. Beginning on July 1, 2023, a private employer with 25 or more employees shall use the E-Verify system to verify a new employee's employment eligibility as required under paragraph (a). 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. [...] (e) An employer may not continue to employ an unauthorized alien after obtaining knowledge that a person is or has become an unauthorized alien.
Full Breakdown
Florida Senate Bill 1718 (2023), codified at FS 448.095, requires every private employer with 25 or more employees in Florida to use the federal E-Verify system to confirm work authorization for every new hire after July 1, 2023. The statute also mandates retention of E-Verify documents for at least three years. The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity audits compliance. Repeat violations carry 1,000 dollar daily civil penalties plus suspension of all state-issued licenses, including Tampa-issued business tax receipts. Public employers and state contractors face stricter requirements regardless of size.
Violations & Fines
Three violations within 24 months trigger automatic license suspension by the state, with 1,000 dollar per day fines until compliance, plus felony charges for knowing employment of unauthorized workers under FS 448.09.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who must use E-Verify in Tampa?
What if I do not comply?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tampa
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Tampa to another location·View the Florida immigration policy overview
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