Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller announced on Wednesday that businesses employing H-1B visa holders will no longer be eligible for certain grants run by the Texas Department of Agriculture. Miller said the policy is meant to prioritize Texas workers and protect taxpayer funds.
Miller also urged Gov. Greg Abbott and other statewide elected officials to adopt similar safeguards in their agencies and grant programs. He called for more transparency about grant recipients and for reviews of existing economic incentives.
The new requirements apply to eligible grants that the department administers. They do not apply to programs the department runs on behalf of independent boards or entities that set their own criteria. The department said they also do not affect Texas entities' access to federal grants or participation in state-funded loan programs it administers.