The proposed bill establishes the "E-Verify Compliance Act" in Rhode Island, mandating that all non-governmental employers with three or more employees apply to participate in the federal E-Verify program to verify the work eligibility of newly hired employees. Employers are required to apply by specific deadlines based on their size: those with 200 or more employees must apply by January 1, 2026; those with 50 to 199 employees by July 1, 2026; and those with fewer than 50 employees by January 1, 2027. Employers must also notify the Department of Labor and Training of their compliance within seven business days of applying and being accepted into the program.

Additionally, the bill includes provisions for record retention, penalties for false documentation, and a severability clause to ensure that if any part of the law is deemed invalid, the remainder will still be enforceable. Employers who rely in good faith on the E-Verify program to verify employee eligibility will be exempt from liability under this act, although they remain subject to state anti-discrimination laws. The act will take effect upon passage.