Caption: Relating to the establishment of a temporary guest worker program in this state. Initially Referred to House State Affairs Committee, chaired by a Republican
HB 2858 establishes a temporary guest worker program in Texas, subject to federal authorization. It directs the Governor of Texas to seek a waiver or other approval from the federal government to implement the program. If granted, the governor may negotiate and enter into a memorandum of understanding with a state in Mexico to facilitate legal migration of Mexican temporary guest workers to Texas businesses in need of skilled and unskilled labor. The program must comply with the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. ยง1101 et seq.) and require businesses to prove that no sufficient U.S. workers are available before hiring foreign labor. Mexican workers must meet specific eligibility criteria, including passing a criminal background check, undergoing standardized testing, and obtaining tamper-proof identification that includes biometric data. The Mexican state participating in the program must track guest workers and notify the business, the Texas governor, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) if a worker fails to return before their visa expires. The bill aims to provide a legal and regulated alternative for businesses seeking temporary foreign labor while ensuring worker oversight and compliance with immigration laws.
Joint authors: Darby (R) Co-authors: Garcia, J. (D); Lalani (D)
Feb 14, 2025
(H) Lopez, R. signed onto the bill as Author (H) Filed
Mar 19, 2025
(H) Read first time (H) Referred to the House State Affairs, chaired by a Republican
Apr 28, 2025
(H) Scheduled for public hearing on . . . (H) Considered in public hearing (H) Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee (H) Left pending in committee
Apr 29, 2025
(H) Darby signed onto the bill as Joint Author
Apr 30, 2025
(H) Considered in public hearing (H) Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
May 6, 2025
(H) Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator (H) Committee report distributed (H) Committee report sent to Calendars
May 7, 2025
(H) Considered in Calendars
May 9, 2025
(H) Placed on General State Calendar
May 12, 2025
(H) Lalani signed onto the bill as Coauthor (H) Read 2nd time (H) Postponed (H) Laid out as postponed business (H) Failed to pass to engrossment (H) Record vote
RV#2198: Yea 65 (R 9, D 56) - Nay 76 (R 76, D 0) View Source
Please note: the following statements by legislators do not affect the vote count that was recorded.
Cody Harris: "When Record No. 2198 was taken, I was presiding in the chair and was shown voting present, not voting. I intended to vote no." (view other statements of vote for this Rep)
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(H) Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
May 13, 2025
(H) Garcia, J. signed onto the bill as Coauthor
Lobbying Against/For/On This Bill
Against
(Mon 4/28/2025) Registering before H State Affairs as Ellen Schlesinger for self (Mon 4/28/2025) Registering before H State Affairs as Erin Walter for self (with Texas Unitarian Universalist Justice Ministry (TXUUJM)) (Mon 4/28/2025) Registering before H State Affairs as Jennifer Margulies for self (Mon 4/28/2025) Registering before H State Affairs as Kairos Looney for self (Mon 4/28/2025) Registering before H State Affairs as Melanie Walter-Mahoney for self (Mon 4/28/2025) Registering before H State Affairs as Michelle Venegas-Matula for self (with Texas Unitarian Universalist Justice Ministry (TXUUJM)) (Mon 4/28/2025) Registering before H State Affairs as Montana Steele for self (Mon 4/28/2025) Registering before H State Affairs as Phillip McJunkins for self (Mon 4/28/2025) Registering before H State Affairs as Sandra Gavrilla for self
For
(Mon 4/28/2025) Registering before H State Affairs as Alice Yi for self (Mon 4/28/2025) Registering before H State Affairs as Gordon Quan for self (Mon 4/28/2025) Registering before H State Affairs as Jason Yuan for self (Mon 4/28/2025) Registering before H State Affairs as Madison Gessner for Texas Restaurant Association (Mon 4/28/2025) Registering before H State Affairs as Sarah Horn for National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) (Mon 4/28/2025) Registering before H State Affairs as Steven Deline for self (Mon 4/28/2025) Registering before H State Affairs as Tao Huang for self (Mon 4/28/2025) Registering before H State Affairs as Zhao Guo for self
