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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 public institutions of |
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higher education for the siblings of certain military personnel. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 54.341, Education Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsections (a-2) and (b-1) and adding Subsection (a-5) to |
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read as follows: |
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(a-2) The exemptions provided for in Subsection (a) also |
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apply to the spouse or a sibling of: |
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(1) a member of the armed forces of the United States: |
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(A) who was killed in action; |
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(B) who died while in service; |
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(C) who is missing in action; |
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(D) whose death is documented to be directly |
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caused by illness or injury connected with service in the armed |
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forces of the United States; or |
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(E) who became totally and permanently disabled |
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or meets the eligibility requirements for individual |
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unemployability according to the disability ratings of the |
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Department of Veterans Affairs as a result of a service-related |
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injury; or |
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(2) a member of the Texas National Guard or the Texas |
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Air National Guard who: |
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(A) was killed since January 1, 1946, while on |
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active duty either in the service of this state or the United |
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States; or |
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(B) is totally and permanently disabled or meets |
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the eligibility requirements for individual unemployability |
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according to the disability ratings of the Department of Veterans |
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Affairs, regardless of whether the member is eligible to receive |
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disability benefits from the department, as a result of a |
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service-related injury suffered since January 1, 1946, while on |
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active duty either in the service of this state or the United |
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States. |
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(a-5) A sibling of a member of the armed forces may qualify |
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for an exemption under Subsection (a-2) only if the member does not |
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have a spouse or child. |
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(b-1) To qualify for an exemption under Subsection (a-2) or |
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(b), the spouse, [or] child, or sibling must be classified as a |
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resident under Subchapter B on the date of the spouse's, [or] |
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child's, or sibling's registration. |
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SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act to Section |
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54.341, Education Code, apply beginning with tuition and fees |
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charged for the 2025 fall semester. Tuition and fees charged for a |
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term or semester before the 2025 fall semester are covered by the |
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law in effect immediately before the effective date of this Act, and |
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the former law is continued in effect for that 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. |