Amend CSSB 1 (house committee report) in Article III of the bill, following the appropriations to The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (III-95), by adding the following appropriately numbered rider:

____.  Progress Study. (a) The Higher Education Coordinating Board shall conduct a study to review the progress made by The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley since the university's creation. The study must:

(1)  assess whether the university is meeting its obligations under Section 79.02(c), Education Code, including in terms of access to classes and programs, investment in each campus, and student life;

(2)  compare the outcomes of students between the university's campuses and the universities that were dissolved to create the university;

(3)  examine the use of university money, including money received from the permanent university fund, at each university campus;

(4)  examine the need and feasibility of establishing additional programs at the university; and

(5)  examine the regional university model.

(b)  Not later than September 1, 2026, the Higher Education Coordinating Board shall prepare and submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the House of Representatives, the chairs of the standing legislative committees with primary jurisdiction over higher education, and each member of the legislature who represents any part of Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, or Willacy County a report on the results of the study that:

(1)  identifies any disparity between The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley's campuses that must be addressed for the university to comply with Section 79.02(c), Education Code;

(2)  includes recommendations for legislative or other action regarding The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and the regional university model; and

(3)  includes any other matter the coordinating board considers appropriate.