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Montana hearing: Sponsor seeks E‑Verify requirement for employers; debate centers on small‑business carve‑outs and enforcement
Summary
Sen. Forrest Mandeville introduced Senate Bill 329 to require employers to use the federal E‑Verify system for new hires, with opponents — including credit union and small‑business groups — urging exemptions and raising administrative and enforcement concerns. The sponsor said he will work on amendments to exempt smaller employers.
Senator Forrest Mandeville introduced Senate Bill 329 to the Senate Judiciary Committee, proposing a statewide requirement that employers use the federal E‑Verify system to verify work authorization for new hires, with an effective date the sponsor said would be Oct. 1 of the year of enactment.
The bill’s sponsor, Senator Forrest Mandeville, said the measure is intended to reduce hiring of undocumented workers and to promote hiring of legally authorized employees, and noted that a number of other states have enacted similar measures. “This bill will take steps to reduce that issue,” he said during opening remarks.
Supporters told the committee E‑Verify is a mature federal tool. Andrew Good, testifying in support, said the system is used widely and cited academic…
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