We, the undersigned state employees and supporters of effective public services in Texas, urge you to ensure that state agencies retain the ability to determine their own remote work policies. The recent push to eliminate telework across state agencies is a step in the wrong direction—one that will harm recruitment and retention, reduce productivity, increase costs, and ultimately weaken the essential services Texans rely on.

The Legislative Budget Board’s November 2024 survey of Texas state agencies confirms what we already know from experience: remote work is a critical tool for maintaining a stable and effective workforce. The flexibility of remote work has allowed agencies to retain skilled employees, improve efficiency, and reduce overhead costs. The Health and Human Services Commission alone reported an annual savings of $7.6 million in the Austin area due to reduced office space needs.

Forcing a return to full-time, in-office work will:

• Increase turnover by pushing out employees.
• Hinder recruitment at a time when agencies are already struggling to fill positions due to low salaries and high workloads.
• Raise costs for the state, as agencies will need to expand office space, increase utility expenses, and manage additional operational overhead.
• Disrupt essential services, leading to longer wait times, decreased efficiency, and overburdened staff—directly impacting the millions of Texans who depend on state services.

We call on you to reject the elimination of remote work and instead allow agencies to determine the policies that work best for their employees and the public they serve. Agencies should have the flexibility to maintain or expand remote work options based on the demonstrated benefits and operational needs.

State employees are the backbone of Texas' public services. If our leaders are serious about improving efficiency–i.e. workforce retention, productivity, and service quality–then they must support policies that empower agencies to make decisions that work—not counterproductive statewide mandates.

We ask that members of your committee support the ability of state agencies and universities to resume sensible remote work policies.