89R16389 RDR-D
By: Morales of Harris H.B. No. 3959
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to tuition and fee exemptions at a public institution of
higher education or a career school or college for a student meeting
certain income and grade requirements.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 54, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 54.204 to read as follows:
Sec. 54.204. EXEMPTION FOR STUDENTS MEETING CERTAIN INCOME
AND GRADE REQUIREMENTS. (a) The governing board of an institution
of higher education shall exempt from the payment of tuition and
required fees charged by the institution an undergraduate student
who:
(1) is a resident of this state;
(2) is a member of a household with a total annual
income below $100,000; and
(3) maintains an overall grade point average of at
least 3.0 on a four-point scale or the equivalent for all coursework
attempted at the institution.
(b) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall
adopt rules governing the granting or denial of an exemption under
this section, including rules relating to the determination of a
student's eligibility for an exemption.
SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 132, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 132.0612 to read as follows:
Sec. 132.0612. TUITION EXEMPTION FOR STUDENTS MEETING
CERTAIN INCOME AND GRADE REQUIREMENTS. As a condition to receiving
a certificate of approval under this chapter, including renewal of
a certificate of approval, a career school or college must provide
an exemption from the payment of tuition and required fees charged
by the school for a course or program, as applicable, to a student
who is exempt from the payment of tuition and fees at a public
institution of higher education as provided by Section 54.204.
SECTION 3. (a) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating
Board shall adopt the rules required by Section 54.204, Education
Code, as added by this Act, as soon as practicable after the
effective date of this Act.
(b) Section 54.204, Education Code, as added by this Act,
applies beginning with tuition and required fees charged for the
2025 fall semester. Tuition and required fees charged for an
academic period before that semester are governed by the law in
effect immediately before the effective date of this Act, and the
former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 4. Section 132.0612, Education Code, as added by
this Act, applies to a certificate of approval issued or renewed
under Chapter 132, Education Code, on or after the effective date of
this Act.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2025.