Texas E-Verify Required for State Agencies and Contractors

Government Code Chapter 673, enacted by Senate Bill 374 (2015), directs each state agency to register for and participate in E-Verify and to verify the employment authorization of every new agency employee. Contractor coverage comes from Executive Order RP-80 (December 2014), which requires agencies under the governor's direction to include E-Verify obligations in state contracts, with termination remedies for noncompliance. Section 673.003 simply authorizes implementing rules. Texas does not impose a statewide E-Verify mandate on purely private employers, but state and contractor coverage is uniform across all Texas cities and counties; localities cannot exempt covered employers.

Non-compliant state agencies face oversight by the State Auditor and the Governor. Contractors that fail to use E-Verify can have contracts terminated and may be barred from future state contracting opportunities.