Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia is backing a sweeping new legislative package designed to make the state even less hospitable for undocumented immigrants, unveiling proposals ranging from English-only commercial driving tests to strict financial bans.
The legislation, filed as Senate Bill 1380 by Senator Jonathan Martin and House Bill 1307 by Representative Berny Jacques, represents the latest chapter in Florida’s ongoing efforts to curb illegal immigration through state-level policy.
Ingoglia framed the measures as necessary protections for legal residents, stating the goal is to “put an end to the harm that has come to law-abiding citizens.”
“With this legislation, we will build on Florida’s strong stance against illegal immigration, and we will create even more deterrents for illegal immigrants trying to enter our state,” Ingoglia said in a statement Tuesday.
The proposal targets several aspects of daily life and employment. One of the most significant changes involves commercial transportation: the bill would mandate that all instruction, testing, and licensing procedures for commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) be conducted exclusively in English.
The bill also heavily targets the employment sector, specifically Worker’s Compensation. Under the proposed rules, individuals in the country illegally would be removed as “covered employees” under the Workers’ Compensation statute.
This shift places a new financial burden on employers. If a company hires undocumented workers, the legislation would force that company to pay out-of-pocket for any workplace injuries sustained by those employees. Furthermore, businesses would be required to use the E-Verify system to submit any Worker’s Compensation claim, adding a layer of scrutiny to the process.
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Financial and insurance sectors are also in the crosshairs. The bill seeks to block undocumented immigrants from accessing state-sponsored housing aid, specifically banning them from Down Payment Assistance programs and “silent second” home mortgage programs. It would also prohibit the use of IDs issued to undocumented individuals for opening bank accounts at state-chartered institutions or obtaining cashier’s checks.
Perhaps the most unique provision involves auto insurance liability. The text of the bill includes a mandate that would force insurance companies covering undocumented immigrants to automatically accept fault if that driver is involved in a car accident within the state.
The Department of Financial Services would also be prohibited from issuing any professional licenses to individuals without legal status.
The bills will now move to legislative committees for debate as the state prepares for its next session.
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