bill extending a college tuition exemption to siblings

The text as introduced · 466 words

89R215 MM-D

By: Raymond
H.B. No. 1867

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to tuition and fee exemptions at public institutions of

higher education for the siblings of certain military personnel.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 54.341, Education Code, is amended by

amending Subsections (a-2) and (b-1) and adding Subsection (a-5) to

read as follows:

(a-2) The exemptions provided for in Subsection (a) also

apply to the spouse or a sibling of:

(1) a member of the armed forces of the United States:

(A) who was killed in action;

(B) who died while in service;

(C) who is missing in action;

(D) whose death is documented to be directly

caused by illness or injury connected with service in the armed

forces of the United States; or

(E) who became totally and permanently disabled

or meets the eligibility requirements for individual

unemployability according to the disability ratings of the

Department of Veterans Affairs as a result of a service-related

injury; or

(2) a member of the Texas National Guard or the Texas

Air National Guard who:

(A) was killed since January 1, 1946, while on

active duty either in the service of this state or the United

States; or

(B) is totally and permanently disabled or meets

the eligibility requirements for individual unemployability

according to the disability ratings of the Department of Veterans

Affairs, regardless of whether the member is eligible to receive

disability benefits from the department, as a result of a

service-related injury suffered since January 1, 1946, while on

active duty either in the service of this state or the United

States.

(a-5) A sibling of a member of the armed forces may qualify

for an exemption under Subsection (a-2) only if the member does not

have a spouse or child.

(b-1) To qualify for an exemption under Subsection (a-2) or

(b), the spouse , [ or ] child , or sibling must be classified as a

resident under Subchapter B on the date of the spouse's , [ or ]

child's , or sibling's registration.

SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act to Section

54.341, Education Code, apply beginning with tuition and fees

charged for the 2025 fall semester. Tuition and fees charged for a

term or semester before the 2025 fall semester are covered 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 3. 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.