BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 290 By: Lopez, Ray Higher Education Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The bill author informed the committee that Texas military forces members often face financial and logistical barriers to pursuing higher education, which can hinder their career advancement and economic stability. In light of recruitment and retention challenges and increasing professional demands, as reported in Military Times, ensuring access to affordable education is vital for the professional development of service members and the long-term readiness of military forces. H.B. 290 seeks to improve postsecondary education access for Texas military forces members by revising the state tuition assistance program to increase the maximum number of semester credit hours for which eligible service members can receive tuition assistance, extend the eligibility period for that assistance, and raise the cap on the number of tuition assistance awards available for qualified service members. 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 H.B. 290 amends the Education Code to increase from 12 to 15 the maximum number of semester credit hours that a public, private, or independent institution of higher education is required to exempt an eligible service member certified by the adjutant general of the state military forces from the payment of tuition for the semester credit hours for which the person enrolls. The bill also reflects this change for such a person who is not charged tuition at the rate provided for other Texas residents. The bill clarifies that the exemption from the payment of all mandatory fees for a person who receives such a tuition exemption applies with respect to the fees for any semester or term in which the person receives the tuition exemption. H.B. 290 amends the Government Code to clarify that provisions regarding assistance for tuition and fees for Texas military forces members apply with respect to assistance for a given semester or term. Additionally, the bill makes the following changes to those provisions: raises from 30 to 45 the cap on the number of assistance awards the adjutant general may make to members of the Texas State Guard for any semester or term unless the adjutant general finds a compelling need for additional awards to those members; raises from 12 to 15 the cap on the number of semester credit hours for which a service member may receive tuition assistance in any semester or term; and raises from five to seven the cap on the number of academic years and from 10 to 15 the cap on the number of semesters or terms, whichever occurs first, for which a service member may receive assistance for tuition and mandatory fees as granted by the adjutant general. H.B. 290 applies beginning with the 2025 fall semester. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
# BILL ANALYSIS
H.B. 290
By: Lopez, Ray
Higher Education
Committee Report (Unamended)
H.B. 290
By: Lopez, Ray
Higher Education
Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The bill author informed the committee that Texas military forces members often face financial and logistical barriers to pursuing higher education, which can hinder their career advancement and economic stability. In light of recruitment and retention challenges and increasing professional demands, as reported in Military Times, ensuring access to affordable education is vital for the professional development of service members and the long-term readiness of military forces. H.B. 290 seeks to improve postsecondary education access for Texas military forces members by revising the state tuition assistance program to increase the maximum number of semester credit hours for which eligible service members can receive tuition assistance, extend the eligibility period for that assistance, and raise the cap on the number of tuition assistance awards available for qualified service members.
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 H.B. 290 amends the Education Code to increase from 12 to 15 the maximum number of semester credit hours that a public, private, or independent institution of higher education is required to exempt an eligible service member certified by the adjutant general of the state military forces from the payment of tuition for the semester credit hours for which the person enrolls. The bill also reflects this change for such a person who is not charged tuition at the rate provided for other Texas residents. The bill clarifies that the exemption from the payment of all mandatory fees for a person who receives such a tuition exemption applies with respect to the fees for any semester or term in which the person receives the tuition exemption. H.B. 290 amends the Government Code to clarify that provisions regarding assistance for tuition and fees for Texas military forces members apply with respect to assistance for a given semester or term. Additionally, the bill makes the following changes to those provisions: raises from 30 to 45 the cap on the number of assistance awards the adjutant general may make to members of the Texas State Guard for any semester or term unless the adjutant general finds a compelling need for additional awards to those members; raises from 12 to 15 the cap on the number of semester credit hours for which a service member may receive tuition assistance in any semester or term; and raises from five to seven the cap on the number of academic years and from 10 to 15 the cap on the number of semesters or terms, whichever occurs first, for which a service member may receive assistance for tuition and mandatory fees as granted by the adjutant general. H.B. 290 applies beginning with the 2025 fall semester.
EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
The bill author informed the committee that Texas military forces members often face financial and logistical barriers to pursuing higher education, which can hinder their career advancement and economic stability. In light of recruitment and retention challenges and increasing professional demands, as reported in Military Times, ensuring access to affordable education is vital for the professional development of service members and the long-term readiness of military forces. H.B. 290 seeks to improve postsecondary education access for Texas military forces members by revising the state tuition assistance program to increase the maximum number of semester credit hours for which eligible service members can receive tuition assistance, extend the eligibility period for that assistance, and raise the cap on the number of tuition assistance awards available for qualified service members.
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
H.B. 290 amends the Education Code to increase from 12 to 15 the maximum number of semester credit hours that a public, private, or independent institution of higher education is required to exempt an eligible service member certified by the adjutant general of the state military forces from the payment of tuition for the semester credit hours for which the person enrolls. The bill also reflects this change for such a person who is not charged tuition at the rate provided for other Texas residents. The bill clarifies that the exemption from the payment of all mandatory fees for a person who receives such a tuition exemption applies with respect to the fees for any semester or term in which the person receives the tuition exemption.
H.B. 290 amends the Government Code to clarify that provisions regarding assistance for tuition and fees for Texas military forces members apply with respect to assistance for a given semester or term. Additionally, the bill makes the following changes to those provisions:
raises from 30 to 45 the cap on the number of assistance awards the adjutant general may make to members of the Texas State Guard for any semester or term unless the adjutant general finds a compelling need for additional awards to those members;
raises from 12 to 15 the cap on the number of semester credit hours for which a service member may receive tuition assistance in any semester or term; and
raises from five to seven the cap on the number of academic years and from 10 to 15 the cap on the number of semesters or terms, whichever occurs first, for which a service member may receive assistance for tuition and mandatory fees as granted by the adjutant general.
H.B. 290 applies beginning with the 2025 fall semester.
EFFECTIVE DATE
On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025.