Florida’s university system is considering a policy to bar public institutions from making new H‑1B hires through Jan. 5, 2027, implementing Gov. Ron DeSantis’s directive to end alleged “H‑1B abuse.” The Board of Governors plans to open the proposal for public comment after a committee vote. The measure would prohibit trustee boards from using the H‑1B program for new hires and would respond to statewide political pressure to prioritize domestic hiring. Higher‑education leaders warn the proposal would hit research capacity and health‑care staffing: large public campuses rely on H‑1B workers for specialized faculty, postdocs and technical staff. University HR and research offices say a pause in H‑1B hiring could interrupt grant timelines and disrupt lab continuity. The move signals a widening state‑level push to constrain international academic mobility, with implications for recruitment, diversity, and research competitiveness.