Hunter
04/30/26
A bill that requires state agencies to verify the citizenship and work eligibility of all state employees heads to Governor Kim Reynolds’ desk for signature.
The House passed the bill Wednesday; the Senate passed it the day before.
The Gazette reports lawmakers in each body initially disagreed over the scope of a bill that would have required state agencies to verify employment eligibility for new hires through the federal E-Verify system and to confirm immigration status or U.S. citizenship before granting professional licenses.
The compromise reached earlier this week would require all applicants for licensure with the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners to provide proof of legal authorization to work in the US. School districts and accredited nonpublic schools would have to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires.
The bill also holds private employers liable for hiring or continue employing someone using a Social Security Number not belonging to them. Violations would be punishable with a $10,000 civil penalty per violation and possible shutdown of businesses until management completes state-mandated training.
The bill includes a provision that requires county election officials to confirm Iowans’ citizenship using a federal immigration database to register them to vote.