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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to contracts with and the acceptance of money from certain |
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foreign entities by public institutions of higher education. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 51.985 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 51.985. PROHIBITION ON CONTRACTS WITH OR ACCEPTANCE OF |
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MONEY FROM CERTAIN FOREIGN ENTITIES. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Designated country or entity" means a country or |
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entity designated as a country of particular concern, a special |
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watch list country, or an entity of particular concern in the United |
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States secretary of state's most recent designations under the |
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International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. Section 6401 |
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et seq.). |
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(2) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning |
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assigned by Section 61.003. |
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(b) Notwithstanding any other law, an institution of higher |
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education may not enter into a contract with or accept a gift, |
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grant, or donation from a designated country or entity. |
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(c) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board may adopt |
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rules as necessary to implement this section. |
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SECTION 2. Section 51.985, Education Code, as added by this |
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Act, applies only to a contract entered into on or after the |
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effective date of this Act. A contract entered into before that |
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date is governed by the law in effect on the date the contract was |
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entered into, and the former law is continued in effect for that |
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purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |