Texas House Bill HB3326

Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

• Filed: 2/25/25

Caption

Relating to certain duties of a public institution of higher education in relation to the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Impact

This bill will have significant implications for the administrative practices of higher education institutions in Texas. By mandating that these institutions must consider adjunct instructors as full-time employees if they meet certain hour thresholds, it aims to provide more equitable treatment for part-time faculty in terms of their qualifications for the federal loan forgiveness program. This could lead to an increase in benefits for part-time faculty who often do not receive the same level of support as full-time teachers.

Summary

House Bill 3326 pertains to the responsibilities of public institutions of higher education regarding the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. This bill introduces specific requirements for how institutions certify the employment of certain part-time and adjunct faculty members. The proposed legislation aims to improve the certification process ensuring that eligible faculty receive the necessary validation of their employment to qualify for loan forgiveness under the program.

Contention

While the bill appears to offer important support for adjunct faculty, potential contention may arise regarding the definition of full-time employment and the burden this may place on institutions to implement the new certification processes. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board is authorized to create rules for administering these requirements, which may lead to discussions about the feasibility and fairness of these regulations. Moreover, there may be concerns about how this change could affect the financial and operational stability of institutions that typically rely on adjunct faculty.

Texas Constitutional Statutes Affected

Education Code

• Chapter 51. Provisions Generally Applicable To Higher Education
  • Section: New Section