Texas governor Greg Abbott proposes to bar public schools from hiring H-1B workers

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has proposed banning public schools in the state from sponsoring H-1B visas for foreign workers, a move that could affect school districts that use the federal visa programme to address teacher shortages.

Abbott said on Tuesday that he wants the Texas Legislature to pass a law ensuring “exactly zero” employees at public schools in the state are working under H-1B visas.

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The proposal is part of Abbott’s wider effort to limit foreign influence in Texas education. He also plans to seek legislation that would prevent public schools from accepting gifts or entering financial agreements with foreign sources. Texas already has similar restrictions covering universities.

Universities and related health institutions employ most H-1B visa holders working in the state’s education sector. However, several public school districts also rely on the programme to recruit teachers for positions where they face shortages, including bilingual education.

“We’re tired of the federal government not putting limits on who can come in under H-1Bs, and because of the federal government’s failure to control H-1B visas, Texas is having to put our foot down, and that means making some tough decisions,” Abbott said while announcing the proposals during a campaign stop in Austin.

Federal data shows Dallas Independent School District employs more H-1B visa holders than any other school district or public university in Texas. The district has 171 employees under the programme.

Dallas ISD officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment following Abbott’s announcement.

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The proposed restrictions cannot take effect without legislative approval. The Texas Legislature is scheduled to convene next year, when lawmakers would have to approve the changes before Abbott could sign them into law.

Abbott said he wants the proposed law to cover both existing H-1B visa holders working in public schools and people seeking visas for specialised positions.

The governor had said in January that his administration was reviewing whether taxpayer money was being used to pay H-1B visa holders working at public schools and universities.

He later directed Texas state agencies and public universities to freeze new H-1B visa petitions. That order did not cover K-12 public schools.

Abbott’s latest proposal comes as President Donald Trump’s administration has also targeted the H-1B programme, arguing that some employers use it to replace American workers with lower-paid and lower-skilled foreign workers. Federal authorities are responsible for reviewing and approving H-1B applications.

Texas school districts employ more educators with H-1B visas than those in any other US state, according to a 2025 analysis by the National Education Association.