S.B. No. 1273

AN ACT

relating to establishing the Higher Education Research Security Council.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 51.957 to read as follows:

Sec. 51.957. HIGHER EDUCATION RESEARCH SECURITY COUNCIL. (a) In this section:

(1) "Council" means the Higher Education Research Security Council established under this section.

(2) "Postsecondary educational institution" means an institution of higher education or a private or independent institution of higher education, as those terms are defined by Section 61.003.

(3) "Tier one research institution" means a postsecondary educational institution in this state designated as R1: very high spending and doctorate production in the 2025 Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education published by the Indiana University Center for Postsecondary Research.

(4) "University system" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003.

(b) The Higher Education Research Security Council is established to promote secure academic research at tier one research institutions while mitigating the risk of foreign espionage and interference.

(c) The council is composed of:

(1) each research security officer designated under Section 51.956; and

(2) a research security officer designated by each private or independent institution of higher education, as defined by Section 61.003, that elects to participate in the council.

(d) If the governing board of a university system has designated under Section 51.956 a research security officer for each institution of higher education under the governing board's management and control, the chancellor of the university system shall designate one of the research security officers to serve as a voting member on the council. The other research security officers designated by the governing board under Section 51.956 to serve in an institutional capacity shall serve as nonvoting members on the council.

(e) A council member serves at the will of the person who designated the member.

(f) A vacancy on the council shall be filled in the same manner as the original designation.

(g) The council member designated under Section 51.956 for The Texas A&M University System shall serve as the initial presiding officer of the council.

(h) The council shall:

(1) identify best practices for a tier one research institution to conduct research securely while mitigating the threat of foreign espionage and interference;

(2) develop a research security policy that a tier one research institution shall adopt to improve research security;

(3) establish an accreditation process under which the council shall award a tier one research institution an accreditation for security excellence;

(4) promote attendance at the annual academic security and counter exploitation program seminar offered by The Texas A&M University System; and

(5) develop and offer an annual training program for tier one research institution security officers that includes:

(A) background and academic history checks of researchers; and

(B) research security and integrity tools and software that must be used to prevent the loss of intellectual capital.

(i) The council shall meet at least once each quarter.

(j) A meeting conducted under Subsection (i) must be in person or by video conference call, as determined by the presiding officer.

(k) The council shall prepare and submit to the governor, the attorney general's office, and the presiding officer of each legislative committee with primary jurisdiction over higher education an annual report on the status of research security at tier one research institutions and any associated recommendations.

(l) A report submitted under Subsection (k) is confidential and is not subject to disclosure under Chapter 552, Government Code.

(m) The council may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations for purposes of this section but may not solicit or accept a gift, grant, or donation from an entity or country:

(1) prohibited from participating in federal contracts under Section 889, John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Pub. L. No. 115-232);

(2) identified as a Chinese military company by the United States Department of Defense in accordance with Section 1260H, William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Pub. L. No. 116-283);

(3) owned by the government of a country designated as a foreign adversary by the United States secretary of commerce under 15 C.F.R. Section 791.4; or

(4) controlled by a governing or regulatory body located in a country described by Subdivision (3).

SECTION 2. (a) Not later than October 1, 2025, the appropriate entities shall designate the members of the Higher Education Research Security Council established under Section 51.957, Education Code, as added by this Act.

(b) Not later than January 1, 2026, the Higher Education Research Security Council established under Section 51.957, Education Code, as added by this Act, shall hold its initial meeting.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

______________________________ ______________________________

President of the Senate Speaker of the House

I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1273 passed the Senate on April 10, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 28, Nays 2; and that the Senate concurred in House amendment on May 12, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 1.

______________________________ Secretary of the Senate

I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1273 passed the House, with amendment, on May 6, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 139, Nays 5, one present not voting.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House

Approved:

______________________________

Date

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Governor