Texas Gov. Greg Abbott suggested Tuesday that the state prohibit H-1B employees from working at public schools. Abbott made the announcement while campaigning in Austin on Aug. 18. He connected the move to a larger effort to reduce foreign influence in Texas classrooms.
Under the Proposal
Abbott said he wants Texas law to guarantee “exactly zero” employees of any public school in the state are on H-1B visas, either currently or in the future. He’s coupling that prohibition with another measure prohibiting school districts from accepting “gifts or entanglements with foreign governments.” Texas universities already operate under that restriction.
According to the Texas Tribune, while Texas school districts are not a major user of H-1Bs overall, they do concentrate the visa program among a few select districts. Dallas ISD has 171 employees on the visa, more than any other district or state university. School districts use the visa primarily to hire teachers in difficult to fill positions like bilingual education, special education and math and science, which can stay empty for months if districts limit their search to Texas residents.
This isn’t a Law Yet
Teachers currently working in Texas on H-1B visas don’t need to panic just yet. Texas Legislature would need to pass such a law, and they won’t be back in session until Jan. 2027. Also, no bill text has been filed at this time, meaning this is just a suggestion for now.
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