Overview
- New petitions are halted immediately and cannot be filed without written approval from the Texas Workforce Commission, with the freeze in place until May 31, 2027.
- Agencies and public universities must submit by March 27 reports detailing 2025 filings and renewals, current H‑1B headcounts, job classifications, countries of origin, visa expirations, and proof of efforts to recruit qualified Texans.
- The directive applies only to state agencies and public higher-education institutions, leaving private employers unaffected.
- Gov. Greg Abbott cites alleged program abuses and aligns the move with federal H‑1B tightening under President Donald Trump, who has pushed measures including a proposed $100,000 fee on new applications.
- Democratic lawmakers and university representatives warn of staffing and research disruptions, noting heavy H‑1B reliance at institutions such as UT Southwestern (228), Texas A&M (214), MD Anderson (171), UT Austin (169) and Texas Tech (143).