Texas Governor Wants to Ban H1B Visas in Public Schools

Article by Satya Published on: 7:03 am, 19 August 2026

Texas Governor Greg Abbott wants to stop public schools from hiring teachers through H1B visas.

Abbott said Texas should have “zero” H1B visa workers in public schools. He said the federal government has failed to control the H1B visa system, forcing Texas to take action.

Some Texas schools use H1B visas to hire teachers for important jobs, especially bilingual education, where there are staff shortages.

Dallas ISD has 171 H1B visa workers, the highest number among Texas school districts.

Abbott wants the new rule to apply to both current H1B workers and future applicants. The proposal will need approval from the Texas Legislature next year.

Texas has more H1B visa educators than any other US state.