SESSION WATCH
Died HOUSE · SESSION 2026

No. HB 315

Immigration, Law Enforcement, and State-issued Identification
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SPONSOR
Joseph
FILED BY
Dotie Joseph — District 108, Democrat [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026
DIED IN
Judiciary Committee

Filed under Criminal Justice.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Immigration, Law Enforcement, and State-issued Identification; Creates Office for New Americans in Department of Commerce; provides requirements for Office for New Americans; provides that discrimination based on person's immigration status is unlawful; revises provisions of law relating to driver licenses, licensing, E-Verify System, the practice of law, federal immigration detainers, law enforcement agencies, DNA samples, education, & reclassification of penalties based on a person's immigration status; removes provisions of law relating to hospital patient data collection, human smuggling, sanctuary policies, duties relating to immigration detainees, reimbursement of costs, & sentence of death for capital offense committed by unauthorized alien; prohibits law enforcement agencies or officers, sheriff's deputies, & federal immigration agencies from engaging in certain immigration enforcement activities within a specified distance of public or private schools, child care facilities, or religious institutions; requires immigration officers to wear specified visible identification; prohibits law enforcement & immigration officers from wearing face coverings in performance of their official duties; requires specified advance notice be given to sheriff; provides criminal penalties; prohibits children from being denied free public education based on immigration status.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Protects immigration status from discrimination and restricts license data sharing.

The bill adds immigration status to protected classes under state civil rights laws, making it illegal to discriminate against individuals based on their immigration status in employment, housing, and public accommodations.

It prohibits the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles from disclosing driver's license information to immigration enforcement agencies without a court order, creating a privacy barrier for license holders.

The legislation expands acceptable identification documents for obtaining a Florida driver's license to include foreign passports and birth certificates, extending the validity period of such licenses to eight years.

It removes the requirement for private employers with 25 or more employees to use the E-Verify system, eliminating a federal compliance mandate for a specific class of private businesses.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Expanded Driver's License Identification Documents majors. 322.08(2)(c)

AIAllows applicants to use foreign passports, birth certificates, and other documents to obtain a Florida driver's license.

“A passport issued by a foreign government. 10. A birth certificate issued by a foreign government. 11. A consular identification document.” bill text, line 328 →
§ 2 Driver's License Validity Period majors. 322.08(2)(c)

AIExtends the validity of driver's licenses issued based on expanded identification documents from 1 year to 8 years.

“is valid for a period not to exceed the expiration date of the document presented or 8 years, whichever date first occurs.” bill text, line 361 →
§ 3 Driver License Privacy Act majors. 322.142(5)

AIProhibits the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles from disclosing driver's license information to immigration enforcement agencies without a court order.

“the department may not disclose or make accessible, in any manner, to any agency that primarily enforces immigration law” bill text, line 499 →
§ 4 E-Verify Requirements for Private Employers majors. 448.095(2)(b)

AIRemoves the requirement for private employers with 25 or more employees to use the E-Verify system.

“Beginning on July 1, 2023, a private employer with 25 or more employees shall use the E-Verify system” bill text, line 615 →
§ 5 Immigration Status as Protected Class majors. 760.01(2)

AIAdds immigration status to the list of protected classes under the Florida Civil Rights Act, prohibiting discrimination based on immigration status.

“freedom from discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, handicap, immigration status, or marital status” bill text, line 715 →
§ 6 New Statewide Anti-Discrimination Protections majors. 760.10

AIAdds immigration status to the list of protected classes in employment, housing, and public accommodation laws, making it illegal to discriminate against individuals based on their immigration status.

“without discrimination or segregation on the ground of race, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, handicap, familial status, immigration status, or religion.” bill text, line 757 →
§ 7 Prohibition on Discrimination Based on Driver's License Compliance majors. 760.45

AIProhibits businesses, employers, and government entities from discriminating against individuals because their driver's license does not comply with the federal REAL ID Act, including prohibiting the reporting of such individuals to law enforcement.

“may not discriminate against an individual because the individual holds or presents a driver license that does not comply with the REAL ID Act of 2005” bill text, line 957 →
§ 8 Reclassification of Penalties for Felonies Committed After Unlawful Reentry majors. 775.0848

AIChanges the penalty enhancement for committing a felony after a prior conviction for unlawful reentry, reclassifying felonies to higher degrees and repealing the previous statute that enhanced penalties for any crime committed by an unauthorized alien.

“A person who has been previously convicted of a crime relating to the reentry of removed aliens under 8 U.S.C. s. 1326 shall have the penalty for committing a any” bill text, line 1014 →
TIMELINE
3/13/2026
Died in Judiciary Committee
1/13/2026
1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
11/12/2025
Now in Judiciary Committee
11/12/2025
Referred to State Affairs Committee
11/12/2025
Referred to Budget Committee
11/12/2025
Referred to Commerce Committee
11/12/2025
Referred to Judiciary Committee
11/4/2025
Filed
2 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 20.60
+176 / −0
s. 322.08
+324 / −70
s. 322.12
+22 / −0
s. 322.142
+427 / −7
s. 322.17
+5 / −9
s. 322.18
+115 / −29