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HB4198Introduced in the House of Delegates

E-Verify Safe Harbor Act

Engrossed

Introduced by Elias Coop-Gonzalez, District 67

What does this bill do?

Plain-English breakdown

Writing a plain-English summary of this bill… this can take a few seconds the first time.

Official description

The purpose of this bill is to verify the legal employment status of workers and record-keeping requirements and employer compliance. The bill ; defines "employment verification" as the electronic verification system or "E-Verify. The bill prohibits local governments from enacting ordinances that contravene or limit the commissioner; and provides civil protections for employers using E-Verify.

Where it stands

Senate requests House to concur

March 14, 2026

How did lawmakers vote?

House of Delegates votes

3 recorded votes · each counted separately

Senate votes

1 recorded vote · each counted separately

SenateStage: Passed Senate (Roll No. 702) · March 14, 2026

31

Yes

3

No

0

Absent or Not Voting

34 senators recorded in this Senate vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.

See how each senator voted

SenatorDistrictVote
Trenton Barnhart9Yes
Ryan Weld1Yes
Laura Wakim Chapman1Yes
Charles Clements2Yes
Chris Rose2Yes
Mike Azinger3Yes
Eric Tarr4No
Amy Nichole Grady4Yes
Mike Woelfel5No
Scott Fuller5Yes

Bill history

  1. Filed for introduction

  2. To Government Organization

  3. Introduced in House

  4. To House Government Organization

  5. By substitute, do pass

  6. On 1st reading, Special Calendar

  7. Postponed on 1st reading, Special Calendar, until February 5, 2026

  8. On 1st reading, Special Calendar

  9. Read 1st time

  10. On 2nd reading, Special Calendar

  11. Read 2nd time

  12. On 3rd reading with right to amend, Special Calendar

  13. Postponed on 3rd reading, Special Calendar, until 2/10/2026

  14. Placed at foot of 3rd reading

  15. Read 3rd time

  16. Amendment reported by the Clerk

  17. Amendment rejected (Roll No. 69)

  18. Amendment reported by the Clerk

  19. Amendment adopted (Voice vote)

  20. Amendment reported by the Clerk

  21. Amendment adopted (Voice vote)

  22. Amendment reported by the Clerk

  23. Amendment adopted (Roll No. 70)

  24. Read 3rd time

  25. Passed House (Roll No. 71)

  26. Title amendment adopted (Voice vote)

  27. Communicated to Senate

  28. Introduced in Senate

  29. To Judiciary

  30. To Judiciary

  31. Without recommendation, but first rereferred to Judiciary

  32. Immediate consideration

  33. Read 1st time

  34. On 2nd reading, rereferred to Judiciary

  35. Reported do pass, with amendment

  36. Immediate consideration

  37. Read 2nd time

  38. On 3rd reading with right to amend

  39. Read 3rd time

  40. Deferred until foot of 2nd reading

  41. Laid over on 3rd reading 3/13/2026 with right to amend

  42. Having been read 3rd time 3/13/2026

  43. Committee amendment reported

  44. Rose amend. to committee amendment rejected (Voice vote)

  45. Morris amend. to committee amendment adopted (Voice vote)

  46. Committee amendment as amended adopted (Voice vote)

  47. Passed Senate (Roll No. 702)

  48. Morris title amendment adopted

  49. Senate requests House to concur

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