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Committee orders report on E‑Verify and labor market impacts; members warn data limits
Summary
JFAC adopted language directing the Department of Labor to study the costs and benefits of using E‑Verify and to report on the impact of illegal immigration on Idaho’s labor market. Several senators warned the department may lack the data requested.
The committee adopted intent language directing the Idaho Department of Labor to report on the costs and benefits of using the E‑Verify system and on the impact of illegal immigration on the state’s labor market, with a report due Dec. 15, 2025.
The language was offered as a committee motion and approved on a 17‑3 combined vote (Senate 8‑2; House 9‑1). During discussion Senator Melissa Wintrow expressed concern the department will be unable to collect data about immigration status, observing that “the data doesn't even exist” for the department to measure illegal status of workers. The sponsor responded that the report could include lessons learned from other states that use E‑Verify.
Analysts characterized the action as direction language: it requests a study that the department will complete and return to the committee. The committee recorded the motion as an intent request rather than a binding policy change; members said the study is intended to give lawmakers information about potential policy options.
The motion passed and will be included as committee language accompanying the budget transmission; no appropriation or statutory change was enacted as part of this action.
