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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to transparency regarding requirements to complete a |
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certificate or degree program at a public institution of higher |
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education. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 61.07771 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 61.07771. TRANSPARENCY IN CERTIFICATE AND DEGREE |
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PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS. (a) The board, in consultation with |
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institutions of higher education, shall adopt rules requiring |
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institutions of higher education to provide transparency in |
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certificate and degree program requirements for students enrolling |
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at or transferring to the institution. |
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(b) The rules must require each institution of higher |
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education to: |
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(1) ensure that the requirements for each certificate |
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or degree program offered by the institution: |
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(A) are current, accessible to students enrolled |
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at the institution and members of the public through the following |
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sources, as applicable, and uniform at each of the following |
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sources: |
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(i) the institution's internal Internet |
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website for students; |
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(ii) the institution's Internet website; |
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and |
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(iii) the Internet website of the |
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department at the institution that offers the certificate or degree |
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program; and |
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(B) state: |
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(i) the prerequisites for each course |
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required as part of the certificate or degree program; and |
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(ii) any non-course requirements for the |
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certificate or degree program and, if the institution offers |
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different tracks for completing the program, those requirements for |
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each track; and |
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(2) post on the institution's Internet website the |
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minimum requirements to be accepted as a transfer student at the |
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institution. |
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SECTION 2. (a) Not later than January 1, 2026, the Texas |
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Higher Education Coordinating Board shall adopt the rules required |
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by Section 61.07771, Education Code, as added by this Act. |
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(b) A public institution of higher education shall comply |
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with the rules adopted under Subsection (a) of this section |
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beginning with the 2026-2027 academic year. |
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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. |
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* * * * * |