Under new legislation, States could issue visa programs

States could one day implement their own visa programs under new legislation from Republican Congressman John Curtis.

The proposal would create a federal pilot program that would allow states to issue their own worker visas to meet local industry needs.

Congressman Curtis says the program would also allow those workers to move between neighboring states for seasonal operations.

Back in 2011, Utah lawmakers passed legislation to create a guest worker program, but it was later repealed after the state could not obtain a federal waiver to implement it.