Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller (R) announced plans to deny certain taxpayer-funded grants to businesses employing H-1B visa holders, arguing that public assistance should prioritize opportunities for Texas workers.
Miller announced the restriction October 28 through the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA). He challenged Gov. Greg Abbott (R-Texas) and other statewide officials to follow his lead. The announcement leaves federal grants, state-funded loans, and independently controlled grant programs outside its scope.
“If a company wants taxpayer support, it should demonstrate a commitment to the people paying the bill. Texas workers should come first. Period,” Miller said in the TDA release.
Which Taxpayer Dollars Fall Outside The Restriction
The exemption for independent boards covers programs whose governing entities establish their own eligibility criteria.
The authority’s board sets grant selection criteria and approves Texas Agricultural Grant applications, according to TDA. This structure raises the possibility that TAFA programs fall within the exemption. However, the department has not expressly confirmed whether the restriction applies to AgLink or AgPro.
TAFA’s AgLink summary reports more than $22.4 million in awards to agricultural facilities affected by natural disasters, including more than $2.1 million for personnel across 26 projects. Those figures describe existing awards, not money Miller has blocked or taxpayer savings from the restriction.
TAFA also directs AgPro, which offers grants of $5,000 to $500,000. TDA says it received more than 1,100 applications and expects to notify applicants of their status by November 15.
Which Employers Could Lose Eligibility
The announced test concerns whether a business employs H-1B visa holders and seeks a covered grant. The release does not identify affected programs, name businesses facing disqualification, or total the funding subject to the restriction.
H-1B visas authorize temporary employment in specialty occupations that generally require specialized knowledge and at least a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent, according to the federal program description. The H-2A program covers temporary agricultural workers. The announcement does not propose an H-2A restriction.
Effective Date And Enforcement Remain Unclear
Miller announced that TDA would stop awarding covered grants to businesses employing H-1B visa holders, but the release also describes the eligibility changes as proposed. It provides no effective date, statutory citation, employer-verification procedure, or explanation of how the restriction would affect existing awards, affiliated companies, or staffing arrangements.
The published announcement does not include a separate implementing directive or revised grant criteria. It therefore does not establish that TDA has already denied a grant under the new restriction or quantify how many American jobs it would preserve.
How Miller’s Move Differs From Abbott’s Freeze
Abbott’s January 27 directive restricts new H-1B petitions by agencies controlled by gubernatorially appointed heads and public institutions of higher education through May 31, 2027, unless the Texas Workforce Commission gives written permission.
Private employers present a separate issue. The Dallas Express previously found that 33 private employers requested 193 H-1B positions in federal labor applications identifying TxDOT-linked worksites. Those applications did not establish that 193 people received visas or worked for TxDOT.
Miller’s action targets grant eligibility. His call for other officials to follow would require additional action by those officials; it does not itself create a statewide ban across agencies.
