89R16389 RDR-D
 
  By: Morales of Harris H.B. No. 3959
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to tuition and fee exemptions at a public institution of
  higher education or a career school or college for a student meeting
  certain income and grade requirements.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter D, Chapter 54, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 54.204 to read as follows:
         Sec. 54.204.  EXEMPTION FOR STUDENTS MEETING CERTAIN INCOME
  AND GRADE REQUIREMENTS. (a) The governing board of an institution
  of higher education shall exempt from the payment of tuition and
  required fees charged by the institution an undergraduate student
  who:
               (1)  is a resident of this state;
               (2)  is a member of a household with a total annual
  income below $100,000; and
               (3)  maintains an overall grade point average of at
  least 3.0 on a four-point scale or the equivalent for all coursework
  attempted at the institution.
         (b)  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall
  adopt rules governing the granting or denial of an exemption under
  this section, including rules relating to the determination of a
  student's eligibility for an exemption.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter C, Chapter 132, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 132.0612 to read as follows:
         Sec. 132.0612.  TUITION EXEMPTION FOR STUDENTS MEETING
  CERTAIN INCOME AND GRADE REQUIREMENTS. As a condition to receiving
  a certificate of approval under this chapter, including renewal of
  a certificate of approval, a career school or college must provide
  an exemption from the payment of tuition and required fees charged
  by the school for a course or program, as applicable, to a student
  who is exempt from the payment of tuition and fees at a public
  institution of higher education as provided by Section 54.204.
         SECTION 3.  (a)  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating
  Board shall adopt the rules required by Section 54.204, Education
  Code, as added by this Act, as soon as practicable after the
  effective date of this Act.
         (b)  Section 54.204, Education Code, as added by this Act,
  applies beginning with tuition and required fees charged for the
  2025 fall semester. Tuition and required fees charged for an
  academic period before that semester are governed by the law in
  effect immediately before the effective date of this Act, and the
  former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 4.  Section 132.0612, Education Code, as added by
  this Act, applies to a certificate of approval issued or renewed
  under Chapter 132, Education Code, on or after the effective date of
  this Act.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2025.