Overview
- Gov. Greg Abbott announced the proposal on Tuesday, calling for a law that would bar K‑12 public districts from employing people on H‑1B visas and restrict foreign gifts to schools.
- Abbott first froze new H‑1B petitions for state agencies and public universities in January and now wants that restriction extended by statute to K‑12 systems.
- Federal data show several hundred K‑12 educators in Texas hold H‑1B visas, with Dallas ISD employing the largest share at about 171 workers, and advocates warn a ban could worsen shortages in bilingual and other hard‑to‑fill roles.
- Universities and some districts are distinguishing renewals from new hires, with Texas State defending an H‑1B renewal as consistent with the January freeze, highlighting uncertainty about how a new law would treat current visa holders.
- Any ban would face legal and practical hurdles because H‑1B eligibility is set at the federal level, so the policy would need clear statutory language, implementation rules, and could prompt lawsuits and staffing crises if passed.