Texas Agriculture Department Restricts Some Grants for H-1B Employers

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller announced that businesses employing H-1B visa holders would be excluded from eligible grants administered directly by the Texas Department of Agriculture, while urging other state officials to consider similar restrictions. The department described the change as an eligibility requirement for grants it administers, though the policy’s effective date and full program scope have not been established. Miller said the restriction is intended to direct public funding toward businesses that employ Texas workers. He also called on Gov. Greg Abbott and other statewide officials to consider comparable conditions for their agencies’ grants and economic development programs, and urged greater transparency about grant recipients and a review of existing incentives. The restriction applies to grants administered directly by the Texas Department of Agriculture. The department said it does not cover programs it manages for independent boards, commissions or other entities that set their own eligibility rules. It also does not affect eligibility for federal grants or participation in state-funded loan programs administered by the department. The...