Proposal to Change H1-B Visas Picks Up Steam

A proposal in Iowa to restrict the hiring of certain foreign workers at colleges and universities is continuing to advance through the state legislature.

House File 2513, which targets the use of H-1B visas in higher education, has already passed the Iowa House and cleared initial stages in the Senate. The measure is currently on the Senate calendar after being approved by a subcommittee and the Senate Workforce Committee in March 2026.

The bill would prohibit Iowa’s public universities, community colleges, and some private institutions from entering into new employment contracts with H-1B visa holders who are citizens of countries designated by the U.S. government as “foreign adversaries” or “state sponsors of terrorism.” Those countries include China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Syria, and Venezuela.

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The proposal has gained momentum in recent weeks. After passing the House with a 68–27 vote in early March, it moved quickly through Senate committees, positioning it for wider debate in the upper chamber.

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Rep. Taylor Collins, R-Mediapolis, who introduced the legislation, said the proposal was prompted by recent federal changes to the H-1B visa program and concerns raised by Iowans about possible espionage risks linked to the program, according to Iowa Public Radio.

Chinese businessman Mo Hailong pleaded guilty in 2016 in the Southern District of Iowa to conspiring to steal trade secrets from agricultural companies DuPont Pioneer and Monsanto.

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If enacted, the restrictions would apply to new contracts beginning in mid-2026, while existing employees would generally not be affected. As of early April, House File 2513 has not yet received a final vote in the Iowa Senate or been signed into law, leaving its outcome uncertain.