Curtis, Kelly Propose State-Sponsored Visa Pilot Program

Bipartisan legislation would empower states and address growing workforce demands in Utah
WASHINGTON —U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) introduced the State Sponsored Visa Pilot Program Act of 2026 , bipartisan legislation to create a new temporary visa program that allows states to address their unique workforce and economic development needs while maintaining strong federal oversight and immigration enforcement.
“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,” said Senator Curtis. “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.”
“States understand their own economic needs best, but federal rules currently determine who can live and work here,” said Senator Kelly. “Our bipartisan bill would let Arizona and other states choose the visas they need to fill labor gaps and strengthen their local economies.”
Background:
Despite having one of the strongest economies in the country, Utah faces a significant workforce shortage—particularly in agriculture, construction, and hospitality. A report published by the Sutherland Institute found that Utah “is experiencing one of the more severe workforce shortages among the states,” and “had a Worker Shortage Index of 0.72, meaning that there are 72 available workers for every 100 open jobs.”
Under the legislation, states could voluntarily establish state-sponsored visa programs tailored to their labor market demands, subject to approval by the Department of Homeland Security. Participating states would determine which workers or investors they sponsor while remaining responsible for monitoring compliance with program requirements. The federal government would retain authority over security screening, visa issuance, and immigration enforcement. Every applicant would be required to pass comprehensive federal background and security checks before receiving a visa.
To ensure accountability, the legislation requires participating states to:
The bill also includes strong safeguards to protect taxpayers and uphold immigration laws. State-sponsored visa holders would be ineligible for federal means-tested benefits, would be subject to all applicable federal, state, and local labor and tax laws, and could lose their status if they violate program requirements or leave the sponsoring state without authorization.
The full text of the bill is available here .