Florida’s Board of Governors barred its 12 public universities from using H-1B visas for new hires through Jan. 5, 2027, while the rule does not prohibit current employees’ contracts or renewals.
The board approved an amendment to Regulation 1.001 on Mar. 2. It bars each university’s board of trustees from using the H-1B program to hire new employees during the pause. Florida’s State University System has 12 public universities for the 2026-27 academic year. All governors in attendance voted for the amendment except Governors Dale and Dunn.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis directed the board on Oct. 29, 2025, to crack down on H-1B use in higher education. He framed the directive as an effort to give qualified Americans priority for university jobs. Hindustan Times reported Oct. 25 that DeSantis had urged other states to follow Florida’s approach in a post on X.
At the board’s March meeting, Chair Alan Levine said the pause would give the board time to gather information on H-1B use. The minutes say universities were asked to assess possible effects on health care access and other risks to health, safety and welfare. They also record concerns about initial fees and possible pay discrepancies.
Federal law sets a general annual limit of 65,000 principal H-1B workers. The statute exempts people employed by or offered a job at qualifying higher-education institutions from that numerical limit. Florida’s rule sets a separate state restriction on using the program for new university hires during the pause, including at institutions covered by the federal exemption.
The pause is scheduled to run through Jan. 5, 2027.
