Idaho House Committee Advances E-Verify Bill Targeting Government Contractors
BOISE — The Idaho House of Representatives is moving closer to expanding the use of the federal E-Verify employment verification system, with a House committee advancing legislation that would require state and local governments and large government contractors to confirm that their workers are legally authorized to work in the United States.
The House Business Committee voted Friday to send Senate Bill 1247 to “general orders,” a procedural step that allows the full Idaho House to propose and vote on amendments before the bill moves forward. The action signals continued momentum in the Idaho Legislature’s broader push this session to crack down on the hiring of unauthorized workers.
What the Bill Would Require
Senate Bill 1247 would mandate the use of E-Verify — a federal internet-based system that allows employers to confirm whether new hires are legally permitted to work in the country — for all state and local government entities in Idaho. The bill would also extend that requirement to private companies that contract with government entities, specifically those with 150 or more employees and contract values of $100,000 or more.
Rep. Josh Wheeler, R-Ammon, presented the bill to the committee and described it as an “incremental step along the E-Verify path,” framing it as part of a larger legislative conversation happening throughout the 2026 session. Wheeler emphasized that the bill was deliberately targeted at larger organizations, noting that companies of that size are “the most likely to have existing HR departments with the capacity to handle some of the administrative burdens that the E-Verify system may impose on them.”
By focusing on government employment and large government contractors rather than all private employers, the bill attempts to thread a policy needle that has proved challenging in the Idaho Legislature this session. Proposals to mandate E-Verify for all private employers in Idaho have drawn significant pushback from business sectors that rely heavily on immigrant labor, including the dairy industry, construction, and service industries. Leaders in those sectors have raised concerns about workforce shortages and operational disruptions if sweeping verification mandates are enacted without adequate transition planning.
Possible Amendments Could Expand Scope Over Time
While the bill was designed as a measured first step, at least one Idaho lawmaker wants to build in a mechanism that would gradually expand its reach to more companies over time. Rep. Brent Crane, R-Nampa, suggested amending the legislation so that the employee threshold — currently set at 150 workers — would incrementally decrease on a set schedule, eventually bringing smaller contractors under the same E-Verify requirements.
Such a phased approach would give businesses more time to adapt their hiring practices and HR systems while still moving Idaho toward broader E-Verify coverage. Rep. Kyle Harris, R-Lewiston, made the formal motion to send the bill to general orders, where the full House can weigh in on such potential amendments.
The move to general orders is a notable procedural step that reflects the Legislature’s desire to refine the bill rather than pass or kill it outright. It gives House members the opportunity to shape the final version of the legislation before it faces a floor vote.
Part of a Broader Idaho Immigration Enforcement Push
Senate Bill 1247 is one of several immigration-related measures working through the Idaho Legislature this session. Lawmakers have also introduced a bill that would require all private employers in Idaho — regardless of size — to use E-Verify when hiring new workers. A separate proposal would create a new misdemeanor criminal charge for any employer found to have knowingly hired unauthorized workers.
Taken together, the legislative package represents one of Idaho’s most aggressive recent efforts to enforce federal immigration employment law at the state level. Supporters argue that ensuring only legally authorized workers are hired protects American workers and taxpayers, particularly when public dollars are involved. Critics, especially in labor-intensive industries, warn that the administrative burden and workforce disruption could harm Idaho’s economy.
For North Idaho employers and local governments in Bonner County and across the Panhandle, the trajectory of these bills will be worth watching closely. Cities, counties, and any contractors working on publicly funded infrastructure projects could face new compliance obligations if SB 1247 becomes law in its current or amended form. More information on related statewide policy developments is available at Idaho News and the Idaho News Network.
What Comes Next
Senate Bill 1247 now moves to general orders in the Idaho House, where members may propose amendments — including the potential phased expansion of the employee threshold suggested by Rep. Crane. Once any amendments are considered and a final version is settled, the bill would face a full House floor vote. If passed, it would need to be signed by Gov. Brad Little before becoming law. The session’s broader E-Verify and immigration enforcement bills remain active and continue to move through the legislative process in Boise.