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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to tuition and fee exemptions at a public institution of |
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higher education or a career school or college for a student meeting |
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certain income and grade requirements. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 54, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 54.204 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 54.204. EXEMPTION FOR STUDENTS MEETING CERTAIN INCOME |
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AND GRADE REQUIREMENTS. (a) The governing board of an institution |
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of higher education shall exempt from the payment of tuition and |
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required fees charged by the institution an undergraduate student |
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who: |
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(1) is a resident of this state; |
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(2) is a member of a household with a total annual |
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income below $100,000; and |
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(3) maintains an overall grade point average of at |
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least 3.0 on a four-point scale or the equivalent for all coursework |
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attempted at the institution. |
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(b) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall |
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adopt rules governing the granting or denial of an exemption under |
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this section, including rules relating to the determination of a |
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student's eligibility for an exemption. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 132, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 132.0612 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 132.0612. TUITION EXEMPTION FOR STUDENTS MEETING |
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CERTAIN INCOME AND GRADE REQUIREMENTS. As a condition to receiving |
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a certificate of approval under this chapter, including renewal of |
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a certificate of approval, a career school or college must provide |
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an exemption from the payment of tuition and required fees charged |
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by the school for a course or program, as applicable, to a student |
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who is exempt from the payment of tuition and fees at a public |
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institution of higher education as provided by Section 54.204. |
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SECTION 3. (a) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating |
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Board shall adopt the rules required by Section 54.204, Education |
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Code, as added by this Act, as soon as practicable after the |
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effective date of this Act. |
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(b) Section 54.204, Education Code, as added by this Act, |
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applies beginning with tuition and required fees charged for the |
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2025 fall semester. Tuition and required fees charged for an |
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academic period before that semester are governed by the law in |
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effect immediately before the effective date of this Act, and the |
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former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 4. Section 132.0612, Education Code, as added by |
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this Act, applies to a certificate of approval issued or renewed |
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under Chapter 132, Education Code, on or after the effective date of |
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this Act. |
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SECTION 5. 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. |