State of Texas return to office policyEach team decides.
Texas has no uniform statewide schedule. Gov. Abbott's office told agencies in March 2025 to end telework and return staff five days a week; HB 5196 (effective Sept 1, 2025) then let agency heads approve written telework agreements to deal with a lack of office space or to give reasonable flexibility.
Days in the office
- Policy
- Flexible, teams decide
- In effect since
- September 1, 2025
- Announced
- June 2025
- Industry
- Government
- Headquarters
- Austin, TX
- Checked
- Reported October 2026
What the policy says.
- HB 5196: telework agreements must be in writing, state the reasons and revocation terms, and be renewed at least annually; agencies may revoke them at any time.
- Agencies may not make telework a condition of employment and may require in-person attendance on telework days.
- An agency that allows telework must adopt a telework plan and post it on its public website.
- The March 2025 directive was given verbally to agency heads, with no written policy. Some agencies set deadlines (Texas Workforce Commission: March 31, 2025).
- A Legislative Budget Board survey cited in coverage: 80 agencies said remote work improved retention and recruitment; 46 said it increased productivity.
How State of Texas's policy changed since 2020.
March 5, 2025
Reports that Abbott's office directed agencies to end telework and require five office days 'as soon as practicable'.
March 31, 2025
Deadline set by the Texas Workforce Commission for teleworking staff to return.
June 2025
Abbott signed HB 5196, which authorizes agency telework agreements (bill passed with near-unanimous support).
September 1, 2025
HB 5196 took effect.
Sources and how sure we are.
ReportedReported by major outlets, but not every detail is confirmed by the company.Office expectations differ by agency. It is unconfirmed how many agencies have adopted telework plans since September 2025, and the exact HB 5196 signing date is unknown (reported as the week before June 27, 2025).
- 1.Following Trump's lead, Abbott orders state workers to return to offices Texas Standard / KUT, March 5, 2025
- 2.Abbott signs bill allowing telework for all state agencies months after his executive order banning it KUT / High Plains Public Radio, June 27, 2025
- 3.Bill Analysis, HB 5196 (89R) Texas Legislature, 2025
Days a week are for most US corporate employees; some teams, roles and countries differ. Spot something out of date? Email hello@forgot.dev.
Other government employers, side by side.
- State of Ohio (state employees)5 days a week, since March 20255
- US Federal Government (civilian workforce)5 days a week, since January 20255
- City of Chicago4 days a week, since January 20264
- State of California (state workers)4 days a week, since July 20264
- City of New York3 days a week, since June 20233
- City of Los Angeles2 days a week2
- State of Arizona (state employees)Each team decidesTeam decides
- State of Florida (state employees)Each team decidesTeam decides
Working to an office rule? Plan the days that matter.
The hybrid work schedule template builds a week of office days for your team: anchor days everyone shares, the rest spread so the office never overflows. Then Forgot keeps office days, remote days and vacations on one calendar, so nobody commutes in for a planning day half the team is away for.
Questions
Does State of Texas require employees to return to the office?
Texas has no uniform statewide schedule. Gov. Abbott's office told agencies in March 2025 to end telework and return staff five days a week; HB 5196 (effective Sept 1, 2025) then let agency heads approve written telework agreements to deal with a lack of office space or to give reasonable flexibility.
How many days a week does State of Texas require in the office?
There's no single company-wide number of days as of October 2026. Texas has no uniform statewide schedule. Gov. Abbott's office told agencies in March 2025 to end telework and return staff five days a week; HB 5196 (effective Sept 1, 2025) then let agency heads approve written telework agreements to deal with a lack of office space or to give reasonable flexibility.
When did State of Texas's current office policy start?
It took effect in September 2025, after being announced in June 2025.
What was the latest change to State of Texas's office policy?
September 2025: HB 5196 took effect.