Texas Governor Greg Abbott has ordered state agencies and public universities to suspend the submission of new H-1B visa petitions, initiating a statewide pause tied to an inquiry into the federal visa program.
In a written directive to state bodies, Abbott pointed to "recent reports of abuse in the federal H-1B visa program" and to the federal government's ongoing review of the program as the rationale for the suspension. The governor's instruction affects filings by state agencies and institutions of higher education across Texas.
The suspension is set to remain in place until May 31, 2027. The directive allows for narrow exceptions, but only when a state entity secures written permission from the Texas Workforce Commission. The commission will therefore determine whether any petition filings may proceed under those limited circumstances.
Alongside the freeze, Abbott has required state agencies to compile and submit a comprehensive report by March 27, 2026. The mandated report must include the number of new and renewal H-1B petitions submitted in the prior year, how many visa holders were sponsored by those agencies or institutions, and details on the visa holders' countries of origin and job classifications.
The move in Texas is not isolated. The state's action comes as a similar measure is being pursued in Florida, where the state Board of Governors is seeking to pause H-1B visas for public universities until January 5, 2027. That effort indicates comparable considerations are underway in at least one other state system.
The governor's order emphasizes a temporary suspension tied to investigation and review, sets explicit reporting requirements for state entities, and establishes a mechanism for exceptions through the Texas Workforce Commission. The timeline and reporting deadlines are clearly specified in the directive sent to agencies and universities.