House panel debates repeal of Office of Legal Immigration; sponsors, agencies and stakeholders disagree on role and results

The House Industry, Business and Labor Committee took testimony on House Bill 1493, which would repeal the statutory provision that created the Office of Legal Immigration in the Department of Commerce.

Representative Andrew Rios, the bill sponsor, said the office — established in 2023 to support recruitment, retention and community integration for foreign‑born workers — had not yet produced results that justify continued funding. Rios told the committee the office had placed roughly 15 workers since it began activity in December and questioned whether state dollars should be used to recruit foreign workers when other programs target domestic recruitment. “I say we repeal the Office of Legal Immigration. It's not needed,” he said.

Department of Commerce workforce director Katie Ralston Howe testified in opposition to repeal. Howe said the office does not process visas or provide immigration legal services and instead helps employers navigate federal immigration processes and builds recruitment pipelines. She described a timeline of study,…