Utah E-Verify

On March 31, 2010, Utah Governor Gary Herbert signed a bill into law requiring Utah employers to use E-Verify® to ensure a legal workforce. Participation was voluntary for the first year, to give businesses time to enroll and adjust their hiring procedures. Using E-Verify became mandatory on July 1, 2010.

The law applies to employers with 15 or more workers. Employers of legal guest workers would not have to use E-Verify®. Employers enrolled in E-Verify® will receive an exemption from penalties under state law should a company using a status verification system inadvertently hire an illegal worker. Also, the state will maintain a list of all those who enroll in the program, presumably to encourage the public to monitor which businesses follow the rules and to reward them with their business.

HB116, enacted in March 2001, proposes a new guest worker permit and expands the options that employers have to verify new hires. Employers with more than 15 employees must use E-Verify®, the Social Security Administration or a recognized third-party system. HB116 will replace existing laws, once the guest worker program is established.

Verification for Public Contracts

Utah employers who have contracts with state or local government agencies were already required to use the E-Verify® system to check the legal status of workers. The requirement became law in July 2009.

Verify I-9's E-Verify® service fully satisfies the requirements of the Utah E-Verify law.

Text of law

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[NOTE: This information is presented for general educational purposes only. It is not legal advice, neither expressed nor implied. You should consult with legal counsel before acting on the information found on this page or for any employment law matter. This information is subject to change without notice. This page was last updated on February 24, 2012.]