CS/HB 1617 - Immigration Bill Summary

• Prohibits counties and municipalities from funding identification documents for individuals without proof of lawful U.S. presence and invalidates out-of-state driver licenses issued exclusively to undocumented immigrants.

• Strengthens employment verification requirements by mandating E-Verify system use for public agencies and private employers with 25+ employees (effective July 1, 2023), with penalties including fines, license suspension/revocation, and probation for violations.

• Requires hospitals accepting Medicaid to collect patient immigration status data on admission forms and submit quarterly reports to the Agency for Health Care Administration, with annual reporting to state leadership.

• Increases criminal penalties for human smuggling and transporting undocumented individuals into Florida, including enhanced felony charges for minors and mandatory custody pending pretrial release.

• Expands state law enforcement coordination with federal immigration agencies, requires DNA collection from individuals subject to immigration detainers, and allocates $12 million for an Unauthorized Alien Transport Program.