BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 290
89R2394 CXP-D	By: Lopez, Ray; Plesa (Hagenbuch)
	Veteran Affairs
	5/22/2025
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

H.B. 290 amends current law relating to assistance for tuition and fees at postsecondary educational institutions for certain members of the Texas military forces.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Sections 54.345(b) and (c), Education Code, as follows:

(b) Requires an institution of higher education to exempt a person certified by the adjutant general as described by Subsection (a) (relating to requiring the adjutant general of the state military forces to certify to institutions of higher education information identifying the persons to whom the adjutant general has awarded assistance for tuition and mandatory fees) from the payment of tuition for the semester credit hours for which the person enrolls, not to exceed 15, rather than 12, semester credit hours. Prohibits the amount of the exemption, if the person is not charged tuition at the rate provided for other Texas residents, from exceeding the amount of tuition the person would be charged as a Texas resident for the number of semester credit hours for which the person enrolls, not to exceed 15, rather than 12, semester credit hours.

(c) Requires an institution of higher education to exempt a person who receives an exemption from tuition under Subsection (b) from the payment of all mandatory fees for any semester or term in which the person receives the tuition exemption.

SECTION 2. Amends Sections 437.226(c), (d), (e), (f), (g), and (i), Government Code, as follows:

(c) Prohibits the number of assistance awards made to members of the Texas State Guard (TSG) from exceeding 45, rather than 30, for any semester or term unless the adjutant general finds a compelling need for additional awards to members of TSG.

(d) Authorizes assistance for tuition and mandatory fees to be awarded under Section 437.226 (Assistance for Tuition and Fees) for tuition and mandatory fees charged for any undergraduate or graduate course for any semester or term at an institution of higher education or private or independent institution of higher education, including a vocational or technical course.

(e) Prohibits a service member from receiving assistance for tuition under this section for more than 15, rather than 12, semester credit hours in any semester or term.

(f) Prohibits a service member from receiving assistance for tuition and mandatory fees under this section for more than seven, rather than 5, academic years or 15, rather than 10, semesters or terms, whichever occurs first for the service member.

(g)-(i) Makes conforming changes to these subsections.

SECTION 3. Makes application of this Act prospective to the 2025 fall semester.

SECTION 4. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2025.