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House OKs registration, E-Verify and sponsor rules for labor brokers in HB302
Summary
HB302 requires labor brokers who bring five or more workers into Alabama to register, use E-Verify and identify sponsors; the House passed the bill after adopting a committee sub.
The Alabama House passed HB302, the "Workforce Transparency Act," which requires entities identified as "labor brokers"—those that bring five or more workers into the state—to register with the Department of Labor, use the SAVE/E-Verify systems to confirm immigration status before employment and require a named sponsor contractually responsible for services for brought-in workers.
Representative Robbins, sponsor, said the bill aims to cut human trafficking and ensure public benefits go only to people entitled to them. Under HB302, if a sponsor fails to provide agreed services, the attorney general could seek reimbursement from that sponsor for benefits provided. Lawmakers said the measure also requires state agencies to use federal verification tools before granting certain government benefits.
Supporters presented the bill as a consumer-protection and anti-trafficking tool that also preserves program integrity. Opponents raised operational questions about state verification capacity, privacy and the administrative burden on small employers. The House adopted a technical committee substitute then passed HB302 by recorded vote.
HB302 moves to the Senate for consideration.
