BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1032

By: Kolkhorst

Higher Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

In 2015, the Texas Legislature passed legislation establishing the Governor's University Research Initiative (GURI) within the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office, which is a matching grant program that assists eligible institutions of higher education in Texas in recruiting distinguished researchers, such as Nobel laureates. The bill sponsor has informed the committee that the scope of the law relating to GURI could be broadened to include private institutions that are already conducting world class research, such as Rice University, Baylor University, and Southern Methodist University. S.B. 1032 seeks to provide for this by including private or independent institutions among the institutions eligible for GURI grants.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 1032 amends the Education Code to include a private or independent institution of higher education among the eligible institutions for purposes of provisions relating to the governor's university research initiative. The bill applies beginning with grants awarded for the 2025-2026 academic year.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025.