Republican lawmakers in the West Virginia Senate are considering revisions to an employment verification bill after members of the chamber’s judiciary committee raised concerns about how broadly the legislation would apply to employers across the state.

The measure, known as House Bill 4198, would expand the use of E‑Verify, a federal system that allows employers to confirm whether new hires are authorized to work in the United States. As passed by the West Virginia House of Delegates, the bill would require both private businesses and government employers to run all new hires through the system.

Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to send the bill to a subcommittee for revisions after some lawmakers argued it could place heavy compliance burdens on employers.

Republican state Sen. Eric Tarr urged colleagues to consider tabling the legislation entirely, arguing the language could create problems for business owners.

Tarr said the proposal could inadvertently penalize small businesses and individuals who hire temporary help, suggesting it might lead to situations where employers face fines for technical violations.

Committee Chairman Tom Willis said the decision to move the bill to a subcommittee was intended to refine the legislation rather than block it.

“We’re not putting this into subcommittee with an intent to kill this bill,” Willis said during the committee discussion. “We’re putting it into a subcommittee with the intent to clean it up, so we have a good product that is good for West Virginia.”

The chairman directed Republican state Sen. Patricia Rucker to lead the subcommittee effort to revise the proposal.

Supporters of the legislation say broader E-Verify requirements would help ensure that businesses hire workers who are legally authorized to work in the United States. Critics of the current language argue that the measure is overly expansive and could impose strict penalties on employers for administrative mistakes.

Republican state Sen. Ryan Weld also voiced concern about the potential penalties included in the bill, warning that businesses could face significant fines or other consequences if they fail to comply with the requirements.

The legislation passed the House on a narrow 48–46 vote, with some Republicans joining Democrats to oppose the measure.

The debate in West Virginia mirrors broader disagreements within Republican-led states about how aggressively to expand E-Verify requirements as part of immigration enforcement policies associated with Donald Trump’s immigration agenda.

Lawmakers in states including Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and Oklahoma have also debated similar proposals, with divisions emerging between those pushing for stricter enforcement measures and those concerned about potential impacts on businesses and local economies.