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HB 323

Relating to requiring political subdivisions of this state to participate in the federal electronic verification of employment authorization program, or E-verify.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by Stan Gerdes and 5 co-sponsors

Texas bill mandates all political subdivisions use E-Verify for employment authorization, creating uniform federal compliance requirements for public sector hiring across local governments.

Committee report sent to Calendars
#aliens(i0032) #electronicinformationsystems(i0311) #labor--general(i0500) #politicalsubdivisions(i0588)
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Bill Summary · HB 323

Legislative bill overview

HB 323 mandates that all political subdivisions in Texas (cities, counties, school districts, etc.) participate in E-Verify, the federal employment authorization verification system. This requirement would apply to public sector hiring and potentially contractor workforce verification. The bill has advanced favorably through committee as of late April 2025.

Why is this important

E-Verify compliance affects hiring practices for hundreds of thousands of public employees across Texas and creates uniform immigration enforcement standards at the local level. Implementation carries both administrative costs for local governments and potential workforce implications, as E-Verify has documented error rates that can flag eligible workers as ineligible.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost and administrative burden: Local governments would bear expenses for E-Verify implementation, training, and system integration without clear state funding mechanisms
  • E-Verify accuracy concerns: The system has documented false-positive rates; eligible citizens and legal residents may face employment delays or wrongful job loss during verification disputes
  • State mandate on local authority: The bill restricts local government discretion over hiring processes, raising federalism concerns about unfunded mandates on municipalities and counties

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

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