All Roll Calls
Yes: 139 • No: 0
OhioHB 246136th General Assembly (2025-2026)House
Require certain construction industry employers to use E-verify
Sponsored By: D. J. Swearingen (Republican), Tex Fischer (Republican)
Signed by Governor
Courts and Civil LawCivil LawCourtsEmploymentState and Local Government
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 4 costs, 0 mixed.
Construction employers face fines and contract bans
Ohio's attorney general must assess $250 per verification violation and $5,000 per violation of the continued-employment ban. A qualifying fine order within the preceding three years raises those amounts to $1,000 and $10,000, respectively. A qualifying second-tier fine order within that period raises them to $1,500 and $25,000. A court finding requires payment of valid penalties plus $1,000 per violation and bars state contracts for up to two years. The attorney general can also impose a ban of up to two years after finding at least two likely willful violations. The state maintains an ineligibility list; removal requires a sworn statement that two years passed without violations, and unpaid fines can block removal. The attorney general can accept anonymous complaints and must investigate complaints with enough factual allegations. Employers have 10 days after notice to provide proof that identified workers are authorized to work. Failure to comply with an enforceable order within 30 days allows a civil enforcement lawsuit in common pleas court. Isolated technical errors and E-Verify malfunctions do not trigger notices or civil enforcement. Collected fines go into a new state fund that the attorney general must use to administer and enforce the law. No funding amount or separate appropriation is specified.
Construction employers risk permanent license loss
Courts must permanently revoke relevant state business licenses when a covered construction employer knowingly employs someone without work authorization. Revocation applies to licenses for the location where that person worked. If no location-specific license exists but a general business license is required, licenses at the main business location are revoked. Revocation is automatic despite other state laws. Courts must rely only on the federal government's immigration-status determination to decide whether the worker lacks authorization. That determination creates a presumption of lawful status that can be challenged; courts can request federal verification.
Construction employers must check workers' eligibility
Ohio contractors, subcontractors, and labor brokers must use federal E-Verify checks for employees hired for nonresidential construction projects. Covered projects include building construction and renovation, highways, bridges, utilities, and related infrastructure. Most residential work, certain farm-related construction, and mobile-home categories are excluded. Employers must keep verification records for three years after hire or one year after employment ends, whichever is later. Previously verified workers need no repeat check when federal law does not require verification or reverification. Employers cannot keep employing a worker after a final E-Verify nonconfirmation that gives instructions to close the case.
State construction contracts require worker checks
Ohio agencies must include worker-verification terms in contracts for nonresidential construction or renovation. Those terms require E-Verify checks and prohibit continued employment after a final nonconfirmation. The attorney general periodically reviews contracts and notifies agencies and the Director of Administrative Services about missing terms. After notice of a violation, an agency must submit proposed contracts of this kind to the director for one year. The director promptly reviews them and can require revised drafts with the missing terms.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
D. J. Swearingen
Republican • House
Tex Fischer
Republican • House
Cosponsors
Adam C. Bird
Republican • House
Adam Holmes
Republican • House
Adam Mathews
Republican • House
Al Cutrona
Republican • Senate
Andrew O. Brenner
Republican • Senate
Angela N. King
Republican • House
Bernard Willis
Republican • House
Bill Roemer
Republican • House
Bob Peterson
Republican • House
Brian Lampton
Republican • House
Brian Lorenz
Republican • House
Brian Stewart
Republican • House
Bride Rose Sweeney
Democratic • House
Catherine D. Ingram
Democratic • Senate
Cecil Thomas
Democratic • House
Chris Glassburn
Democratic • House
Cindy Abrams
Republican • House
Crystal Lett
Democratic • House
Daniel P. Troy
Democratic • House
David Thomas
Republican • House
Derrick Hall
Democratic • House
Eric Synenberg
Democratic • House
Gary Click
Republican • House
Haraz N. Ghanbari
Republican • House
Jack K. Daniels
Republican • House
James M. Hoops
Republican • House
Jane M. Timken
Republican • Senate
Jason Stephens
Republican • House
Jean Schmidt
Republican • House
Jeff LaRe
Republican • House
Jennifer Gross
Republican • House
Jerry C. Cirino
Republican • Senate
Jodi Salvo
Republican • House
Joseph A. Miller, III
Democratic • House
Josh Williams
Republican • House
Kellie Deeter
Republican • House
Kevin D. Miller
Republican • House
Kevin Ritter
Republican • House
Kyle Koehler
Republican • Senate
Lauren McNally
Democratic • House
Marilyn John
Republican • House
Mark Hiner
Republican • House
Mark Johnson
Republican • House
Mark Sigrist
Democratic • House
Matthew Kishman
Republican • House
Melanie Miller
Republican • House
Michael D. Dovilla
Republican • House
Mike Odioso
Republican • House
Monica Robb Blasdel
Republican • House
Nick Santucci
Republican • House
Paula Hicks-Hudson
Democratic • Senate
Phil Plummer
Republican • House
Riordan T. McClain
Republican • House
Rob McColley
Republican • Senate
Scott Oelslager
Republican • House
Sean P. Brennan
Democratic • House
Sedrick Denson
Democratic • House
Shane Wilkin
Republican • Senate
Steve Demetriou
Republican • House
Terrence Upchurch
Democratic • House
Terry Johnson
Republican • Senate
Theresa Gavarone
Republican • Senate
Thomas F. Patton
Republican • Senate
Thomas Hall
Republican • House
Tim Barhorst
Republican • House
Tim Schaffer
Republican • Senate
Tom Young
Republican • House
Tracy M. Richardson
Republican • House
Ty D. Mathews
Republican • House
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 11/19/2025
Passed
Yes: 33 • No: 0
Senate vote • 10/29/2025
Workforce Development: Reported
Yes: 5 • No: 0
House vote • 6/11/2025
Passed
Yes: 92 • No: 0
House vote • 6/9/2025
Commerce and Labor: Reported
Yes: 9 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Signed by Governor
12/19/2025GovernorSent to Governor
12/9/2025GovernorPassed
11/19/2025SenateReported
10/29/2025SenateRefer to Committee
6/18/2025SenateIntroduced
6/12/2025SenatePassed
6/11/2025HouseReported
6/9/2025HouseRefer to Committee
4/30/2025HouseIntroduced
4/29/2025House
Bill Text
As Enrolled
12/19/2025
As Introduced
As Passed by the House
As Passed by the Senate
As Reported by the House Commerce and Labor Committee
As Reported by the Senate Workforce Development Committee
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