Overview
- The order takes immediate effect and covers state agencies led by gubernatorial appointees and public universities, with private employers and K‑12 school districts not included.
- Any exception requires written approval from the Texas Workforce Commission, which was directed to issue implementation guidance.
- Agencies and universities must file reports by March 27, 2026 detailing 2025 petitions, current sponsored workers, job classifications, countries of origin, visa expirations, and efforts to recruit Texans.
- Abbott cited reported program abuse and a goal of prioritizing taxpayer‑funded jobs for Texans, pairing the freeze with a state review of H‑1B use.
- Texas public institutions employ hundreds of H‑1B workers, including UT Southwestern (228), Texas A&M (214), MD Anderson (171) and UT Austin (169), as higher‑education advocates warn of risks to research and medical staffing; the action comes as Trump’s $100,000 H‑1B fee takes effect and Florida weighs a similar pause.