Texas Department of Agriculture restricts grants for H-1B employers

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller announced that the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) will restrict certain state-administered grants for businesses that employ H-1B visa holders. The policy aims to ensure that taxpayer-funded grants prioritize employment opportunities for Texas residents rather than subsidizing companies that rely on temporary foreign labor.

Miller stated that businesses receiving public funding should demonstrate a commitment to local workers and investing in Texas communities. He has called on Governor Greg Abbott and other statewide elected officials to implement similar restrictions across their respective agencies and economic development initiatives.

The measure does not prohibit the hiring of H-1B workers, nor does it affect federal grants or state-funded loan programs. It specifically targets certain grant programs directly managed by the TDA. The department has not yet released full implementation details, including the specific list of affected grants, the total amount of funding involved, or the process for verifying a company’s H-1B employment status.