House Committee Passes Bill to Require Employer Use of E-Verify Program

COLUMBUS – The House Commerce and Labor Committee today passed House Bill 327, legislation that supports Ohio workers by ensuring newly hired employees are legally eligible for employment in the United States, announced bill sponsor, State Rep. D.J. Swearingen (R-Huron). Swearingen is sponsoring the legislation alongside State Rep. Scott Wiggam (R-Wayne County). 

House Bill 327 will require employers to use the E-Verify program, a free internet-based program that efficiently verifies the employment eligibility of new hires. The program streamlines verification of new employees’ work permits, visas, and citizenship within 3-5 seconds.

“This legislation ensures that we employ a legal workforce here in Ohio,” said Swearingen. “Our goal is to support employers who are following the law in their employment practices and the thousands of skilled and talented Ohioans that are ready to get to work.”

This legislation applies to the following employers:

• Contractors engaged in state or local public works construction;
• Non-residential construction contractors; and
• Any employer that has 75 or more employees within the state.

House Bill 327 now heads to the House floor for a vote.