States in the US could soon play a direct role in sponsoring foreign workers under a new bipartisan bill introduced by Senators Mark Kelly of Arizona and John Curtis of Utah, a move aimed at helping employers fill labour shortages while keeping immigration enforcement under federal control.
The State Sponsored Visa Pilot Program Act of 2026 would create a temporary visa programme allowing participating states to sponsor workers or investors based on their economic and workforce needs, subject to approval by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The federal government would continue to oversee security screening, visa issuance and immigration enforcement.
Also Read| US citizenship exam could look very different under Trump's new plan
The legislation comes as businesses in several states report persistent labour shortages across sectors including agriculture, construction, manufacturing, hospitality and healthcare.
"States understand their own economic needs best, but federal rules currently determine who can live and work here," Kelly said. "Our bipartisan bill would let Arizona and other states choose the visas they need to fill labor gaps and strengthen their local economies."
Curtis said employers across Utah have repeatedly raised concerns about finding enough workers.
"I’ve heard time and again from small business owners, farmers, and ranchers across Utah how difficult it has become to hire enough workers to meet growing market demands," Curtis said. "Our legislation would help fill the gap by creating a pilot program allowing states to sponsor visas tailored to their unique economies, without sacrificing rigorous federal vetting or accountability."
How the proposed visa programme would work
Under the bill, participation would be voluntary. States opting into the programme would be allowed to design visa programmes that reflect their labour market needs after obtaining DHS approval.
Participating states would be responsible for selecting workers or investors they wish to sponsor and monitoring compliance with programme requirements. However, the federal government would retain exclusive authority over background checks, national security screening, visa issuance and immigration enforcement. Every applicant would have to pass federal security and background checks before receiving a visa.
Also Read| Bill introduced in US Senate seeks 3-year pause on H-1B visas, codify $100,000 fee
The bill also requires participating states to regularly assess workforce needs and prevailing wages, prevent the displacement of American workers, investigate complaints, monitor participants' employment and residency, report compliance to the federal government, and accept reductions or suspension of visa allocations if they fail to meet programme standards.
To strengthen accountability, state-sponsored visa holders would not be eligible for federal means-tested benefits and would have to comply with all applicable federal, state and local labour and tax laws. They could also lose their visa status if they violate programme rules or leave their sponsoring state without authorisation.
Business groups back the proposal
The legislation has received support from a range of business, immigration and community organisations, including Third Way, UnidosUS, the U.S. Hispanic Business Council, American Business Immigration Coalition (ABIC) Action, the National Immigration Forum, Aliento, the Southern Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the Essential Worker Immigration Coalition (EWIC).
Supporters said the proposal would give states greater flexibility to address workforce shortages while preserving federal oversight of immigration and national security.
