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HB 1194

Labor and Workforce Development, Dept. of - As introduced, requires the office of employment verification assistance to, using existing resources, create and publish a report on the number of employers that the office has enrolled in E-Verify or conducted work authorization status checks on behalf of. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 8 and Title 50.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Scott Cepicky

Tennessee bill requires employment verification office to report annual E-Verify enrollment numbers and work authorization checks using existing resources.

Signed by Governor.
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Bill Summary · HB 1194

Legislative bill overview

HB 1194 requires Tennessee's Office of Employment Verification Assistance to create and publish an annual report documenting how many employers they've enrolled in E-Verify and how many work authorization status checks they've conducted on behalf of employers. The bill uses existing departmental resources rather than requiring new funding.

Why is this important

E-Verify is a federal system that checks whether employees are legally authorized to work in the U.S. This reporting requirement would provide transparency on state immigration enforcement efforts and could influence future policy decisions about workplace verification programs. It reflects ongoing debate about immigration enforcement responsibility between state and federal governments.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost and administrative burden: Despite claims of using "existing resources," creating comprehensive reports may require staff time and database modifications that strain departments already managing multiple responsibilities
  • Privacy and employer liability concerns: Publishing employer enrollment numbers could inadvertently identify which businesses participate in E-Verify, potentially affecting recruitment or creating targets for immigration advocacy groups
  • Scope ambiguity: The bill doesn't specify report frequency, distribution method, or data granularity, leaving implementation details unclear and potentially subject to future dispute

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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