# 119-s-5197: State-Sponsored Visa Pilot Program Act of 2026

119-s-5197, State-Sponsored Visa Pilot Program Act of 2026, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Curtis, John R. [R-UT] (R-UT); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-09-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5197
- As of: 2026-09-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-5197
- Congress: 119
- Title: State-Sponsored Visa Pilot Program Act of 2026
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-07-30
- Sponsor: Sen. Curtis, John R. [R-UT] (R-UT)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Policy area: Immigration
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-09-12

## Summary

**This bill would create a new **State-sponsored nonimmigrant (W) program** that lets states sponsor temporary foreign workers in exchange for economic contributions. It would shift major control over where sponsored workers live and work to states and bar those workers from Federal means-tested benefits.** - States: Any state with legislative approval could apply to sponsor workers, set state rules on employment and residence, collect fees and require bonds, join interstate compacts, and run complaint and enforcement systems that are generally not subject to federal judicial review. - Sponsored nonimmigrants: Individuals would get employment authorization and access to state occupational licensing, face an initial stay of up to 3 years, and be ineligible for Federal means-tested benefits. They could seek adjustment to lawful permanent residence if they have an approved immigrant petition and would get work and travel authorization while that application is pending after biometric checks. - Employers and labor safeguards: Employers must pay Federal payroll taxes and follow employer health care responsibilities for these workers. Annual visa limits start with a 5,000 baseline plus population-based allocations, and compliance tools include bond triggers when more than 3 percent of a state’s sponsored workers violate program terms, with minimum bonds beginning at $4,000 and rising by $1,000 in later years.

## Cosponsors (1)

- Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ] (D-AZ), 2026-07-30T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Employer tax and coverage duties: cost, medium. This bill would require employers of State-sponsored nonimmigrants to follow all federal, State, and local tax laws, including payroll taxes. For employer health coverage rules, these nonimmigrants would count as full-time employees certified as enrolled in qualified plans for purposes of the emplo…
- Mandatory bonds and refunds rules: mixed, high. This bill would require States to make sponsored people post bonds if a State has more than 3% of sponsored people found to have violated program terms. The initial required bond would be at least $4,000 per person the first fiscal year, rise by $1,000 in later years, and be adjusted annually for i…
- Status, work rights, and benefit limits: mixed, high. This bill would let sponsoring States set initial W status up to 3 years and allow renewals only if the State requests it and the person lived continuously in that sponsoring State or compact States. State-sponsored W holders would be authorized to work and eligible for State occupational licensing…
- Waiver rules, fees, and fraud limits: mixed, medium. This bill would let certain people who were in the U.S. on Dec. 31, 2016 get narrow waivers if a participating State requests them. To qualify, applicants would need specific proof of presence, either SSA/IRS/government records or three other reliable documents. Applicants would pay a processing/fr…
- State-run visa program rules: mixed, medium. This bill would create a new State-sponsored W visa and let States (or compacts of States) apply to sponsor people. DHS must approve State applications that meet rules, including prior State legislative approval and State tracking of where sponsored people live and work. States could form interstat…

## Related bills

- 119-s-3923: Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026
- 119-s-1462: Fix Our Forests Act
- 119-s-1541: SHIPS for America Act of 2025
- 119-s-1748: Kids Online Safety Act
- 119-s-1792: AI Whistleblower Protection Act
- 119-s-3257: John A. Hauser Mental Health in Aviation Act

## Sources
- [119-s-5197 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/5197)

## Related
- [119-s-3923: Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3923)
- [119-s-1462: Fix Our Forests Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1462)
- [119-s-1541: SHIPS for America Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1541)
- [119-s-1748: Kids Online Safety Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1748)
- [119-s-1792: AI Whistleblower Protection Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1792)
- [119-s-3257: John A. Hauser Mental Health in Aviation Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3257)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5197 (as of 2026-09-12).