Signed by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that prohibits state entities from employing undocumented immigrants, establishes the E-Verify Requirement Act, and requires state entities to use E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility in Arkansas.

Highlights:

• Prohibits state entities from employing undocumented immigrants (Sec. 1).

• Establishes the E-Verify Requirement Act (Sec. 1).

• Requires state entities to use E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility in Arkansas (Sec. 1).

• Defines “E-Verify” as the electronic verification system operated by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, or its successor program, as authorized by the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (Sec. 1).

• Requires that beginning on July 1, 2026, if the department determines that an employer failed to use the E-Verify system to verify the employment eligibility of employees as required under this subchapter, the department shall (Sec. 1):

• Notify the employer of the department's determination of  noncompliance; and

• Provide the employer with 30 days to cure the noncompliance.

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall take effect immediately upon passage and approval by the Governor (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that prohibits state entities from employing undocumented immigrants, establishes the E-Verify Requirement Act, and requires state entities to use E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility in Arkansas.

Highlights:

• Prohibits state entities from employing undocumented immigrants (Sec. 1).

• Establishes the E-Verify Requirement Act (Sec. 1).

• Requires state entities to use E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility in Arkansas (Sec. 1).

• Defines “E-Verify” as the electronic verification system operated by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, or its successor program, as authorized by the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (Sec. 1).

• Requires that beginning on July 1, 2026, if the department determines that an employer failed to use the E-Verify system to verify the employment eligibility of employees as required under this subchapter, the department shall (Sec. 1):

• Notify the employer of the department's determination of  noncompliance; and

• Provide the employer with 30 days to cure the noncompliance.

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall take effect immediately upon passage and approval by the Governor (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text