By: Wilson (Senate Sponsor - Hall) H.B. No. 5646

(In the Senate - Received from the House May 8, 2025; May 9, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Veteran Affairs; May 26, 2025, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 7, Nays 0; May 26, 2025, sent to printer.) Click here to see the committee vote

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to resident tuition rates and fees at public institutions of higher education for certain students in military-related programs.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 54, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 54.224 to read as follows:

Sec. 54.224. RESIDENT TUITION FOR STUDENTS IN MILITARY-RELATED PROGRAMS. (a) A person enrolled at an institution of higher education is entitled to pay tuition and fees at the rates provided for Texas residents if the person is:

(1) enrolled and in good standing in a Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program;

(2) enrolled in a corps of cadets, including a corps of cadets at a senior military college; or

(3) enrolled in a corps of midshipmen.

(b) Notwithstanding any other law, a person who is entitled to pay resident tuition and fees only as permitted by this section is not considered a Texas resident under this subchapter for purposes of a financial aid program offered by this state.

SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies beginning with tuition and other fees charged for the 2025 fall semester. Tuition and other fees charged for an academic period before that semester are covered 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 3. 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.

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