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Read. Follow. Verify.Ohio Bill Requires Employers to Use E-Verify and Establishes Fines for Noncompliance
Last action · May 20, 2026: Referred to Commerce and LaborSponsors: Josh Williams and 1 other
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What This Bill Would Do
Ohio House Bill 921 requires covered employers to verify employee work eligibility through the program and prohibits continuing employment after receiving a . The legislation establishes civil fines ranging from $250 to $25,000 for violations, permits the attorney general to investigate complaints, and mandates permanent license revocation for businesses that knowingly employ unauthorized aliens.
Covered Ohio employers face mandatory verification duties, potential fines up to $25,000 for specific violations, state contract disqualifications for up to two years, and the risk of permanent business license revocation for employing unauthorized workers.
- E-Verify is an internet-based system operated by the federal government that allows businesses to determine the eligibility of their employees to work in the United States. context
- House Bill 921 was introduced in the 136th General Assembly of Ohio and referred to the House Commerce and Labor committee. context
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Covered Employers
Covered employers must use the E-Verify program for hiring, maintain records, face tiered civil fines for noncompliance, and risk state contract bans or license revocation.
Covered Employees
Covered employees are subject to identity and legal working status confirmation checks through E-Verify.
State Agencies
State agencies must include E-Verify compliance provisions in nonresidential construction contracts and undergo periodic review by the attorney general.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who qualifies as a covered employer under House Bill 921?
What happens if an employer receives a final nonconfirmation from E-Verify?
How long must employers keep E-Verify confirmation records?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
2 actions- May 20, 2026HouseCommitteeReferred to Commerce and Labor
- May 19, 2026HouseIntroducedIntroduced
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Expansion of Mandatory E-Verify
The bill broadens verification requirements beyond construction to encompass various additional employment categories and state contractors.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.legislature.ohio.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy80Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz65Current news / social attention level
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