Public employees and officers: state; state contractors; require to verify legal residency of employees. Creates new act.

SB 444 requires all public employers (state/local government entities) and contractors working on public contracts to verify new employees' work authorization through the federal E-verify system. It directly affects state/local government departments, contractors, and subcontractors who hire 10+ employees annually, mandating they use E-verify or Form I-9 to confirm employees are U.S. citizens or authorized to work. Violations can result in civil fines ($100-$1,000 per violation) or a one-year ban on contracting with public bodies. The law also requires contractors to verify subcontractor employees and imposes penalties for knowingly false statements. This applies to all public contracts within Michigan, taking effect 90 days after enactment.