A Republican bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See all 45 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Legal Workforce Act aims to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to make employment eligibility verification requirements mandatory and permanent. It establishes an electronic employment eligibility verification system to be administered by the Secretary of Homeland Security. Employers will be required to verify the identity and work authorization of new hires, existing employees, and those being recruited or referred. The bill includes different implementation timelines based on the size of the employer. It also provides a process for reverification of employees with limited work authorization. Additionally, the act introduces new penalties for non-compliance and includes provisions for identity theft protection.
Yes· 3 of 6
- Scored +3
Would children be better off under this?
The bill provides a mechanism for parents to protect their children's identities from unauthorized social security number use.
- Scored +3
Does this tighten control of the border?
The bill strengthens the domestic workforce by strictly enforcing employment eligibility requirements.
- Scored +2
Does this give people more control over their personal data?
The bill includes provisions for identity theft protection and allows individuals to limit the use of their identifying information.
The opposite· 3 of 9
- Scored -5
Would business owners be better off under this?
The bill increases administrative burdens, compliance costs, and the risk of significant civil and criminal penalties.
- Scored -5
Would immigrants be better off under this?
The bill mandates strict, permanent, and high-stakes identity and work authorization checks for all employees.
- Scored -4
Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this?
The bill increases the intensity of work authorization verification which often affects this demographic.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Protection Against Identity Theft: The bill establishes a program to block social security account numbers that show unusual multiple use or are suspected of being compromised by identity fraud (Section 11, subsection a).
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Tools for Identity Theft Victims: Victims of identity fraud can use a specific program to suspend or limit the use of their social security account number or other identifying information (Section 11, subsection b).
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Protection for Minors: Parents or legal guardians have a reliable method to suspend or limit the use of a minor's social security account number or identifying information (Section 11, subsection c).
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Good Faith Defense for Employers: Employers who comply in good faith with the verification requirements are protected from certain liabilities and may receive reduced or waived penalties (Section 5, subsection a).
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Job Offer Protections: An employer cannot terminate employment or rescind a job offer due to a failure in the verification process until a nonconfirmation becomes final (Section 2, subsection (1)(C)(ii)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Increased Penalties for Employers: The bill increases civil money penalties, such as raising fines for certain violations from $250–$2,000 to $2,500–$5,000 (Section 8, subsection (2)(A)(B)).
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Risk of Debarment: Repeat violators or those convicted of crimes under this section may be considered for debarment from receiving Federal contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements (Section 8, subsection (12)(A)).
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Criminal Liability: Individuals engaging in a pattern or practice of violations may face fines of up to $5,000 and imprisonment for up to 18 months (Section 8, subsection (5)).
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Employment Termination Risks: If an employer receives a final nonconfirmation regarding an individual, they may terminate that individual's employment or decline to recruit them (Section 2, subsection (1)(C)(ii)(V)(aa)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would children be better off under this? — The bill provides a mechanism for parents to protect their children's identities from unauthorized social security number use. Would business owners be better off under this? — The bill increases administrative burdens, compliance costs, and the risk of significant civil and criminal penalties. Would immigrants be better off under this? — The bill mandates strict, permanent, and high-stakes identity and work authorization checks for all employees. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — The bill increases the intensity of work authorization verification which often affects this demographic. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The stricter verification requirements may increase barriers to entry for low-wage workers.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this strengthen the rights of workers to organise? — The bill includes union hiring halls in the definition of those who recruit or refer, subject to the new verification requirements. Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The bill imposes stricter employment verification mandates and significantly higher civil money penalties on employers.
- Education And Technology
- Does this give people more control over their personal data? — The bill includes provisions for identity theft protection and allows individuals to limit the use of their identifying information.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — The bill's administrative burden may indirectly impact the employment of veterans in the private sector.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this tighten control of the border? — The bill strengthens the domestic workforce by strictly enforcing employment eligibility requirements. Does this make it easier for immigrants already here to become citizens? — The bill focuses on strictly enforcing current work authorization rather than providing paths to status. Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The mandatory verification system may disproportionately affect minority groups through increased scrutiny of work authorization.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this protect people from being watched or searched? — The bill establishes programs to help victims of identity fraud protect and suspend the use of their Social Security numbers. Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires annual reporting to Congress regarding the status of the verification system and enforcement actions. Does this leave more decisions to the states? — The bill preempts many state and local laws regarding employment eligibility and verification.
- 10/26/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/4/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 8/3/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/15/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/24/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/12/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/28/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/27/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/14/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 3/5/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 3/4/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 3/3/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/23/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 2/12/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/4/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/2/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/22/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/12/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/16/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/9/2025
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 11/19/2025
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 11/7/2025
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 10/24/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 10/17/2025
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 10/10/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 8/26/2025
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 8/19/2025
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 7/10/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/8/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/7/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 3/11/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/27/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/6/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/4/2025
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- 1/9/2025
- Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
2 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Lauren BoebertRepublican · Colorado
Gus BilirakisRepublican · Florida
Andy BarrRepublican · Kentucky
Brian BabinRepublican · Texas
Andy BiggsRepublican · Arizona
Josh BrecheenRepublican · Oklahoma
Michael BaumgartnerRepublican · Washington
Sheri BiggsRepublican · South Carolina
Ed CaseDemocrat · Hawaii
Michael CloudRepublican · Texas
Ben ClineRepublican · Virginia
Mike CollinsRepublican · Georgia
Byron DonaldsRepublican · Florida
Scott DesJarlaisRepublican · Tennessee
Warren DavidsonRepublican · Ohio
Troy DowningRepublican · Montana
Russell FryRepublican · South Carolina
Randy FineRepublican · Florida
Brandon GillRepublican · Texas
Wesley HuntRepublican · Texas
Brian JackRepublican · Georgia
Julia LetlowRepublican · Louisiana
Tom McClintockRepublican · California
Mary MillerRepublican · Illinois
Barry MooreRepublican · Alabama
Richard McCormickRepublican · Georgia
Riley MooreRepublican · West Virginia
Addison McDowellRepublican · North Carolina
Troy NehlsRepublican · Texas
Ralph NormanRepublican · South Carolina
Andrew OglesRepublican · Tennessee
Scott PerryRepublican · Pennsylvania
Jimmy PatronisRepublican · Florida
Chip RoyRepublican · Texas
Michael RulliRepublican · Ohio
Christopher SmithRepublican · New Jersey
Lloyd SmuckerRepublican · Pennsylvania
W. SteubeRepublican · Florida
Dale StrongRepublican · Alabama
Keith SelfRepublican · Texas
Beth Van DuyneRepublican · Texas
Matt Van EppsRepublican · Tennessee
Joe WilsonRepublican · South Carolina
Ann WagnerRepublican · Missouri
Tony WiedRepublican · Wisconsin