BILL ANALYSIS C.S.H.B. 1868 By: Leo Wilson Higher Education Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The bill author has informed the committee that there is a disparity between the funding and accreditation for dual-credit classes between local independent school districts, who receive funding when students hit the nine-hour credit mark, and public junior colleges, who give these programs accreditation but do not receive state funding unless a student hits 15 credit hours. C.S.H.B. 1868 seeks to further understand this disparity by requiring the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to conduct a study assessing the feasibility and the fiscal and policy implications of decreasing the number of semester credit hours or the equivalent for certain dual credit or dual enrollment courses for purposes of performance tier funding within the public junior college state finance program in Texas. CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS C.S.H.B. 1868 amends the Education Code to require the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to conduct a study to assess the feasibility and the fiscal and policy implications, including the fiscal impact to the state, of decreasing the number of semester credit hours or the equivalent for a sequence of dual credit or dual enrollment courses that apply toward academic or workforce program requirements at the postsecondary level for purposes of performance tier funding under the public junior college state finance program from 15 semester credit hours or the equivalent to nine semester credit hours or the equivalent. The bill requires the THECB to assess the following in conducting the study: the potential benefit to students of decreasing the required credit hours or the equivalent for such dual credit or dual enrollment courses, including: o alignment with the public school accountability system; o any reduction in the time to graduate with or the cost for an undergraduate degree at an institution of higher education; and o a comparison of matriculation and completion rates for students who complete a sequence of 9 semester credit hours or the equivalent for dual credit or dual enrollment courses versus a sequence of 15 semester credit hours or the equivalent for those courses; and the current and projected capacity of the state's workforce to teach dual credit or dual enrollment courses, including the following: o an estimate of the number of instructors currently eligible to teach dual credit or dual enrollment courses and the geographic distribution of those instructors; o an analysis of barriers to certification or credentialing in teaching dual credit or dual enrollment courses; and o strategies to increase the number of instructors eligible to teach dual credit or dual enrollment courses, including professional development pathways, partnerships with public institutions of higher education, and targeted financial or academic support programs. C.S.H.B. 1868 authorizes the THECB to consult with the Texas Education Agency and institutions of higher education in conducting the study. The bill requires the THECB, not later than December 1, 2026, to submit to the legislature a report on the results of the study and any recommendations for legislative or other action, including recommendations for actions to support an expanded workforce of dual credit or dual enrollment instructors. The bill's provisions expire September 1, 2027. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025. COMPARISON OF INTRODUCED AND SUBSTITUTE While C.S.H.B. 1868 may differ from the introduced in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill. The introduced, for purposes of performance tier funding under the public junior college state finance program, decreased from 15 to nine the minimum number of semester credit hours to be considered for purposes of that funding with respect to the measurable outcome that is based on the number of students who complete a sequence of semester credit hours or the equivalent dual credit or dual enrollment courses that apply toward academic or workforce program requirements at the postsecondary level. The substitute does not include this provision. Instead, the substitute requires the THECB to conduct a study to assess the feasibility and the fiscal and policy implications of making such a decrease and sets out provisions relating to the following: the factors the THECB must assess in conducting the study; the authority for the THECB to consult with TEA and institutions of higher education in conducting the study; the report on the results of the study the THECB must submit to the legislature; and the expiration of the bill's provisions. The substitute changes the bill's effective date to provide for its possible immediate effect, contingent on receiving the requisite constitutional vote, whereas the introduced provided only for the bill to take effect September 1, 2025, with no possibility for immediate effect.
BILL ANALYSIS
# BILL ANALYSIS
C.S.H.B. 1868
By: Leo Wilson
Higher Education
Committee Report (Substituted)
C.S.H.B. 1868
By: Leo Wilson
Higher Education
Committee Report (Substituted)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The bill author has informed the committee that there is a disparity between the funding and accreditation for dual-credit classes between local independent school districts, who receive funding when students hit the nine-hour credit mark, and public junior colleges, who give these programs accreditation but do not receive state funding unless a student hits 15 credit hours. C.S.H.B. 1868 seeks to further understand this disparity by requiring the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to conduct a study assessing the feasibility and the fiscal and policy implications of decreasing the number of semester credit hours or the equivalent for certain dual credit or dual enrollment courses for purposes of performance tier funding within the public junior college state finance program in Texas.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS C.S.H.B. 1868 amends the Education Code to require the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to conduct a study to assess the feasibility and the fiscal and policy implications, including the fiscal impact to the state, of decreasing the number of semester credit hours or the equivalent for a sequence of dual credit or dual enrollment courses that apply toward academic or workforce program requirements at the postsecondary level for purposes of performance tier funding under the public junior college state finance program from 15 semester credit hours or the equivalent to nine semester credit hours or the equivalent. The bill requires the THECB to assess the following in conducting the study: the potential benefit to students of decreasing the required credit hours or the equivalent for such dual credit or dual enrollment courses, including: o alignment with the public school accountability system; o any reduction in the time to graduate with or the cost for an undergraduate degree at an institution of higher education; and o a comparison of matriculation and completion rates for students who complete a sequence of 9 semester credit hours or the equivalent for dual credit or dual enrollment courses versus a sequence of 15 semester credit hours or the equivalent for those courses; and the current and projected capacity of the state's workforce to teach dual credit or dual enrollment courses, including the following: o an estimate of the number of instructors currently eligible to teach dual credit or dual enrollment courses and the geographic distribution of those instructors; o an analysis of barriers to certification or credentialing in teaching dual credit or dual enrollment courses; and o strategies to increase the number of instructors eligible to teach dual credit or dual enrollment courses, including professional development pathways, partnerships with public institutions of higher education, and targeted financial or academic support programs. C.S.H.B. 1868 authorizes the THECB to consult with the Texas Education Agency and institutions of higher education in conducting the study. The bill requires the THECB, not later than December 1, 2026, to submit to the legislature a report on the results of the study and any recommendations for legislative or other action, including recommendations for actions to support an expanded workforce of dual credit or dual enrollment instructors. The bill's provisions expire September 1, 2027.
EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025.
COMPARISON OF INTRODUCED AND SUBSTITUTE While C.S.H.B. 1868 may differ from the introduced in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill. The introduced, for purposes of performance tier funding under the public junior college state finance program, decreased from 15 to nine the minimum number of semester credit hours to be considered for purposes of that funding with respect to the measurable outcome that is based on the number of students who complete a sequence of semester credit hours or the equivalent dual credit or dual enrollment courses that apply toward academic or workforce program requirements at the postsecondary level. The substitute does not include this provision. Instead, the substitute requires the THECB to conduct a study to assess the feasibility and the fiscal and policy implications of making such a decrease and sets out provisions relating to the following: the factors the THECB must assess in conducting the study; the authority for the THECB to consult with TEA and institutions of higher education in conducting the study; the report on the results of the study the THECB must submit to the legislature; and the expiration of the bill's provisions. The substitute changes the bill's effective date to provide for its possible immediate effect, contingent on receiving the requisite constitutional vote, whereas the introduced provided only for the bill to take effect September 1, 2025, with no possibility for immediate effect.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
The bill author has informed the committee that there is a disparity between the funding and accreditation for dual-credit classes between local independent school districts, who receive funding when students hit the nine-hour credit mark, and public junior colleges, who give these programs accreditation but do not receive state funding unless a student hits 15 credit hours. C.S.H.B. 1868 seeks to further understand this disparity by requiring the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to conduct a study assessing the feasibility and the fiscal and policy implications of decreasing the number of semester credit hours or the equivalent for certain dual credit or dual enrollment courses for purposes of performance tier funding within the public junior college state finance program in Texas.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
C.S.H.B. 1868 amends the Education Code to require the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to conduct a study to assess the feasibility and the fiscal and policy implications, including the fiscal impact to the state, of decreasing the number of semester credit hours or the equivalent for a sequence of dual credit or dual enrollment courses that apply toward academic or workforce program requirements at the postsecondary level for purposes of performance tier funding under the public junior college state finance program from 15 semester credit hours or the equivalent to nine semester credit hours or the equivalent. The bill requires the THECB to assess the following in conducting the study:
the potential benefit to students of decreasing the required credit hours or the equivalent for such dual credit or dual enrollment courses, including:
o alignment with the public school accountability system;
o any reduction in the time to graduate with or the cost for an undergraduate degree at an institution of higher education; and
o a comparison of matriculation and completion rates for students who complete a sequence of 9 semester credit hours or the equivalent for dual credit or dual enrollment courses versus a sequence of 15 semester credit hours or the equivalent for those courses; and
the current and projected capacity of the state's workforce to teach dual credit or dual enrollment courses, including the following:
o an estimate of the number of instructors currently eligible to teach dual credit or dual enrollment courses and the geographic distribution of those instructors;
o an analysis of barriers to certification or credentialing in teaching dual credit or dual enrollment courses; and
o strategies to increase the number of instructors eligible to teach dual credit or dual enrollment courses, including professional development pathways, partnerships with public institutions of higher education, and targeted financial or academic support programs.
C.S.H.B. 1868 authorizes the THECB to consult with the Texas Education Agency and institutions of higher education in conducting the study. The bill requires the THECB, not later than December 1, 2026, to submit to the legislature a report on the results of the study and any recommendations for legislative or other action, including recommendations for actions to support an expanded workforce of dual credit or dual enrollment instructors. The bill's provisions expire September 1, 2027.
EFFECTIVE DATE
On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025.
COMPARISON OF INTRODUCED AND SUBSTITUTE
While C.S.H.B. 1868 may differ from the introduced in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.
The introduced, for purposes of performance tier funding under the public junior college state finance program, decreased from 15 to nine the minimum number of semester credit hours to be considered for purposes of that funding with respect to the measurable outcome that is based on the number of students who complete a sequence of semester credit hours or the equivalent dual credit or dual enrollment courses that apply toward academic or workforce program requirements at the postsecondary level. The substitute does not include this provision.
Instead, the substitute requires the THECB to conduct a study to assess the feasibility and the fiscal and policy implications of making such a decrease and sets out provisions relating to the following:
the factors the THECB must assess in conducting the study;
the authority for the THECB to consult with TEA and institutions of higher education in conducting the study;
the report on the results of the study the THECB must submit to the legislature; and
the expiration of the bill's provisions.
The substitute changes the bill's effective date to provide for its possible immediate effect, contingent on receiving the requisite constitutional vote, whereas the introduced provided only for the bill to take effect September 1, 2025, with no possibility for immediate effect.