TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida’s public universities will be barred from hiring new faculty and staff using H-1B visas, following a Monday vote by the Florida Board of Governors. The decision makes Florida the second state, after Texas, to enact such a ban, raising concerns about the future of research and education within the state’s higher education system. The eight-month pause will allow the chancellor’s office to study the use and costs of H-1B visas at public institutions, according to officials.
The move, prompted by a request from Governor Ron DeSantis earlier this year, aims to prioritize Floridians for job opportunities and, as DeSantis stated, to limit the influence of professors coming from China and other countries. The governor’s office framed the pause as a temporary measure, with Chairman Alan Levine emphasizing the intention to collect data and make informed decisions about future policy. “The governor’s office agrees that rather than a permanent stoppage, it’s appropriate to study this issue—to place a pause on it,” Levine said during the board’s meeting. “For now, we’re talking about eight months, nine months, while we collect some data.”
Understanding the H-1B Visa and its Role in Higher Education
The H-1B visa program allows U.S. Employers to temporarily employ foreign workers in specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. In higher education, these visas are frequently used to attract international scholars, researchers, and faculty members, particularly in fields where there is a shortage of qualified American workers. The program has long been a subject of debate, with proponents arguing it fills critical skill gaps and drives innovation, while critics raise concerns about potential wage suppression and job displacement for U.S. Citizens. The growing restrictions on H-1B visas in states like Florida and Texas signal a shift in approach to this long-standing program.
Concerns Raised by Faculty and Administrators
The decision was not without opposition. Kimberly Dunn, an associate professor of accounting at Florida Atlantic University and a faculty representative to the board, voiced strong concerns about the potential impact of the pause. “A one-year pause, even if it goes away after one year, will have lasting effects” on the reputation and ability to recruit top talent, Dunn said during the meeting. She and student representative Carson Dale were the only two board members to vote against the motion.
The pause will not affect H-1B visa holders already employed at Florida’s public universities, and their visas may be renewed if they expire during the eight-month period. However, the ban on new hires could significantly impact ongoing research projects and the ability of universities to attract leading experts in their fields. The long-term consequences for Florida’s academic standing remain to be seen.
Texas Preceded Florida with Similar Restrictions
Florida’s decision follows a similar move by Texas, which implemented an executive order earlier this year restricting the hiring of individuals with H-1B visas at state agencies, including public universities. The actions in both states reflect a broader trend of increased scrutiny towards the H-1B visa program and a focus on prioritizing domestic workers. Inside Higher Ed reports that the Florida Board of Governors’ action is not as formalized as Texas’s executive order, but the direction is clear.
What’s Next for Florida’s Universities?
During the eight-month pause, the Florida chancellor’s office will conduct a comprehensive study of H-1B visa usage and associated costs within the state’s public university system. The findings of this study will be used to inform future policy decisions regarding the use of H-1B visas. Chairman Levine indicated a desire to move quickly with the data collection process, stating, “I think we demand to move as quickly as possible to collect the information, and when we learn what we need to learn, then we can make some informed decisions about what the policy needs to be on a go-forward basis.”
The outcome of the study and any subsequent policy changes will have significant implications for the future of higher education in Florida, potentially impacting the state’s ability to compete for top talent and maintain its position as a leading research hub. Stakeholders will be closely watching the developments in the coming months as the state navigates this evolving landscape.
The Florida Board of Governors is scheduled to review the initial findings of the H-1B visa study in November 2026. Further updates and policy decisions will be announced following that review.
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