BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 1067 By: Middleton Education K-16 3/18/2025 As Filed AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT Concerns have been raised about the influence of foreign entities on public institutions of higher education in Texas. Some foreign governments, political parties, and corporations have been identified as potential national security risks. Without clear prohibitions, Texas institutions may inadvertently accept funding from sources that could compromise academic integrity, research security, or national interests. As proposed, S.B. 1067 amends current law relating to prohibiting public institutions of higher education and employees of public institutions of higher education from soliciting or accepting gifts, grants, donations, or investments from certain foreign entities. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in SECTION 1 (Section 51.984, Education Code) of this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, by adding Section 51.984, as follows: Sec. 51.984. PROHIBITION ON SOLICITING OR ACCEPTING GIFTS, GRANTS, DONATIONS, OR INVESTMENTS FROM CERTAIN FOREIGN ENTITIES. (a) Defines "designated country" and "institution of higher education." (b) Prohibits an institution of higher education or an employee of an institution of higher education in the employee's official or private capacity, notwithstanding any other law, from soliciting or accepting a gift, grant, donation, or investment from a governmental entity of a designated country, a political party of a designated country, including private money from any party member, or a company that is headquartered in a designated country and in which a governmental entity of a designated country holds an ownership interest. (c) Requires an institution of higher education or an employee of an institution of higher education to return any money or other thing of value received in violation of this section during the preceding state fiscal biennium to the entity or entities that provided the money or other thing of value to the institution or employee. (d) Authorizes the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to adopt rules as necessary to implement this section. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 1067
By: Middleton
Education K-16
3/18/2025
As Filed
Senate Research Center
S.B. 1067
By: Middleton
Education K-16
3/18/2025
As Filed
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Concerns have been raised about the influence of foreign entities on public institutions of higher education in Texas. Some foreign governments, political parties, and corporations have been identified as potential national security risks. Without clear prohibitions, Texas institutions may inadvertently accept funding from sources that could compromise academic integrity, research security, or national interests.
As proposed, S.B. 1067 amends current law relating to prohibiting public institutions of higher education and employees of public institutions of higher education from soliciting or accepting gifts, grants, donations, or investments from certain foreign entities.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in SECTION 1 (Section 51.984, Education Code) of this bill.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, by adding Section 51.984, as follows:
Sec. 51.984. PROHIBITION ON SOLICITING OR ACCEPTING GIFTS, GRANTS, DONATIONS, OR INVESTMENTS FROM CERTAIN FOREIGN ENTITIES. (a) Defines "designated country" and "institution of higher education."
(b) Prohibits an institution of higher education or an employee of an institution of higher education in the employee's official or private capacity, notwithstanding any other law, from soliciting or accepting a gift, grant, donation, or investment from a governmental entity of a designated country, a political party of a designated country, including private money from any party member, or a company that is headquartered in a designated country and in which a governmental entity of a designated country holds an ownership interest.
(c) Requires an institution of higher education or an employee of an institution of higher education to return any money or other thing of value received in violation of this section during the preceding state fiscal biennium to the entity or entities that provided the money or other thing of value to the institution or employee.
(d) Authorizes the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to adopt rules as necessary to implement this section.
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2025.