Florida recently enacted significant legislation relating to employee immigration verification. Senate Bill 1718 (the “Bill”), which Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law on May 10, 2023, makes using E-Verify mandatory for any private employer with 25 or more employees, imposes penalties for those employing undocumented individuals, and enhances penalties for human trafficking. Previously, only Florida’s public sector employers were required to use E-Verify. Effective July 1, 2023, all private sector employers in Florida with 25 or more employees must use E-Verify to confirm the work authorization status of newly hired employees.
