BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 2231 89R6255 AND-D By: Hinojosa, Adam Education K-16 3/31/2025 As Filed AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT College application fees alone can be a deterrent for prospective students. Fees vary in Texas by school with most applications being in the $60 to $75 range for undergraduate students per application and most students apply to somewhere between five and 10 schools in their senior year of high school. To encourage and increase applications, this bill will designate the second week of October as Free College Application Week for all public institutions of higher education in Texas. This fee waiver should be administered through the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) and Apply Texas. As proposed, S.B. 2231 amends current law relating to requiring the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to waive fees for admission applications submitted to public institutions of higher education during certain periods. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in SECTION 1 (Section 61.0731, Education Code) of this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, by adding Section 61.0731, as follows: Sec. 61.0731. WAIVER OF CERTAIN APPLICATION FEES; FREE COLLEGE APPLICATION WEEK. (a) Requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to designate the second full week of October as Free College Application Week. Requires THECB, during the designated week, to permit individuals in this state to apply to any institution of higher education for undergraduate admission without paying an application fee. (b) Authorizes THECB to adopt rules as necessary to implement Subsection (a). SECTION 2. Provides that Section 61.0731, Education Code, as added by this Act, applies beginning with the 20252026 academic year. SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 2231
89R6255 AND-D By: Hinojosa, Adam
Education K-16
3/31/2025
As Filed
Senate Research Center
S.B. 2231
89R6255 AND-D
By: Hinojosa, Adam
Education K-16
3/31/2025
As Filed
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
College application fees alone can be a deterrent for prospective students. Fees vary in Texas by school with most applications being in the $60 to $75 range for undergraduate students per application and most students apply to somewhere between five and 10 schools in their senior year of high school. To encourage and increase applications, this bill will designate the second week of October as Free College Application Week for all public institutions of higher education in Texas. This fee waiver should be administered through the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) and Apply Texas.
As proposed, S.B. 2231 amends current law relating to requiring the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to waive fees for admission applications submitted to public institutions of higher education during certain periods.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in SECTION 1 (Section 61.0731, Education Code) of this bill.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, by adding Section 61.0731, as follows:
Sec. 61.0731. WAIVER OF CERTAIN APPLICATION FEES; FREE COLLEGE APPLICATION WEEK. (a) Requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to designate the second full week of October as Free College Application Week. Requires THECB, during the designated week, to permit individuals in this state to apply to any institution of higher education for undergraduate admission without paying an application fee.
(b) Authorizes THECB to adopt rules as necessary to implement Subsection (a).
SECTION 2. Provides that Section 61.0731, Education Code, as added by this Act, applies beginning with the 20252026 academic year.
SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2025.