Texas public schools would no longer be able to sponsor H-1B visas to hire foreign workers under a proposal announced Tuesday by Gov. Greg Abbott, a move that could affect districts that have relied on the federal program to help fill teacher shortages.
Abbott said he plans to ask state lawmakers to ensure “exactly zero” employees at Texas public schools are working in the state on H-1B visas. The proposal is part of a broader push by the governor to restrict foreign involvement in Texas 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 during a campaign stop in Austin.
Abbott also said he would seek legislation prohibiting public schools from accepting gifts or entering into financial agreements with foreign sources. Texas already has restrictions governing certain foreign gifts and agreements involving public universities.
While universities and affiliated health institutions employ much of the H-1B workforce in Texas education, some K-12 districts use the visas to recruit teachers for difficult-to-fill positions, including bilingual education.
Dallas ISD has particularly extensive use of the program. Federal data shows the district employs 171 H-1B visa holders — more than any other public school district or public university in Texas. Officials with Dallas ISD, the state's second-largest school district, did not immediately respond to a request for comment following Abbott's late-afternoon announcement.
Proposal would affect current visa holders
The governor's plan would require approval from the Texas Legislature, which convenes next year, before it could become law.
Abbott said he wants the restrictions to apply not only to future H-1B applicants but also to workers who already hold the visas. H-1B visas allow U.S. employers to temporarily employ foreign workers in specialized occupations, with applications reviewed and approved by federal officials.
The announcement builds on steps Abbott took earlier this year.
In January, the governor said his office was reviewing whether taxpayer money was being used to employ H-1B visa holders at public schools and universities. He subsequently ordered state agencies and public universities to freeze new H-1B visa petitions. That directive did not extend to K-12 public schools.
The latest proposal would close that gap by seeking a statewide prohibition for public school districts.
Texas districts rely heavily on H-1B educators
The debate comes as the Trump administration has increased scrutiny of the H-1B program, arguing that some employers use it to replace American workers with foreign employees who can be paid less. The federal government, however, is responsible for reviewing and approving H-1B petitions.
For Texas school districts, the proposed ban could have implications for recruiting educators in areas already facing staffing challenges.
Texas districts employ more educators on H-1B visas than districts in any other state, according to a 2025 analysis by the National Education Association.
That reliance means Abbott's proposal could reach beyond the broader political fight over immigration and foreign influence. If lawmakers approve the ban as described, school districts that currently employ H-1B teachers would have to navigate the loss of a recruiting tool they have used to staff classrooms where qualified teachers can be difficult to find.
