HB 2851: bill adding nursing schools to the medical application service

Caption

relating to including nursing school applications in a consolidated application service.

Summary

Medical, dental, and now nursing. One application service.

The bill requires any service that handles combined applications to Texas medical or dental schools, including the one run through The University of Texas System, to also handle applications to Texas nursing schools. It touches that application service, nursing schools in Texas, and students applying to nursing programs. Starting with applications for the fall 2026 semester, nursing school applicants would apply through the same shared system used for medical and dental schools.

Labels

Labels: CROSS-PARTY HANDOFF. Lead author Donna Howard (D) in the House. Lead sponsor Lois Kolkhorst (R) in the Senate. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.QUICK READ: 137 WORDS. The bill as filed runs 137 words, counting the existing law it amends and the text it strikes. The median 89R bill as filed runs 441 words (derived, 8,702 graded bills, snapshot Oct 19, 2026).

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB2851 · 2025-02-14

SOLD BY

Rep. Donna HowardDHouse 48

Rep. Vincent PerezDHouse 77

ITEM

relating to including nursing school applications in a consolidated application service.

WHAT IT DOES

Medical, dental, and now nursing. One application service.

The bill requires any service that handles combined applications to Texas medical or dental schools, including the one run through The University of Texas System, to also handle applications to Texas nursing schools. It touches that application service, nursing schools in Texas, and students applying to nursing programs. Starting with applications for the fall 2026 semester, nursing school applicants would apply through the same shared system used for medical and dental schools.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

Net to General Revenue · FY 2026($1,909,059)

LBB estimate, flow · fiscal note version F · ( ) = negative · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version F · May 27, 2025

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB2851, As Passed 2nd House: a negative impact of ($3,728,217) through the biennium ending August 31, 2027. The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.

First year · FY 2026 · ($1,909,059)

Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

Feb 14, 2025Filed
Mar 19, 2025Read first time
Mar 19, 2025Referred to Higher Education
Apr 1, 2025Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Apr 1, 2025Considered in public hearing
Apr 1, 2025Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
Apr 1, 2025Left pending in committee
Apr 15, 2025Considered in public hearing
Apr 15, 2025Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
Apr 21, 2025Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
Apr 21, 2025Committee report distributed
Apr 22, 2025Committee report sent to Calendars
Apr 24, 2025Considered in Calendars
Apr 29, 2025Placed on General State Calendar
Apr 29, 2025Read 2nd time
Apr 29, 2025Amended 1-Howard
Apr 29, 2025Passed to engrossment as amended
Apr 29, 2025Record vote RV#854
Apr 29, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
Apr 30, 2025Read 3rd time
Apr 30, 2025Passed
Apr 30, 2025Record vote RV#1001
Apr 30, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
Apr 30, 2025Reported engrossed
Apr 30, 2025Received from the House
May 5, 2025Read first time
May 5, 2025Referred to Education K-16
May 19, 2025Rereferred to committee
May 19, 2025Referred to Health & Human Services
May 21, 2025Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
May 21, 2025Considered in public hearing
May 21, 2025Testimony taken in committee
May 21, 2025Left pending in committee
May 22, 2025Co-sponsor authorized
May 22, 2025Considered in public hearing
May 22, 2025Vote taken in committee
May 23, 2025Reported favorably as substituted
May 23, 2025Committee report printed and distributed
May 26, 2025Co-sponsor authorized
May 26, 2025Placed on intent calendar
May 26, 2025Rules suspended-Regular order of business
May 26, 2025Read 2nd time & passed to 3rd reading
May 26, 2025Vote recorded in Journal
May 26, 2025Three day rule suspended
May 26, 2025Record vote
May 26, 2025Read 3rd time
May 26, 2025Passed
May 26, 2025Record vote
May 26, 2025Senate passage as amended reported
May 27, 2025Senate Amendments distributed
May 27, 2025Senate Amendments Analysis distributed
May 28, 2025House concurs in Senate amendment(s)
May 28, 2025Record vote RV#3990
May 28, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
May 28, 2025Text of Senate Amendment(s)
May 28, 2025House concurs in Senate amendment(s)-reported
May 29, 2025Reported enrolled
May 30, 2025Signed in the House
May 31, 2025Signed in the Senate
May 31, 2025Sent to the Governor
Jun 20, 2025Signed by the Governor
Jun 20, 2025Effective on 9/1/25

FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 114 yea · 22 nay

Senate · 31 yea · 0 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · Apr 30, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · May 26, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Donna Howard

Donors

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$15K Texas Association of Nurse Anesthetists Political Action Committee$8K HDCC Incumbent Protection Fund$7K

Not tied to this bill.

Sources

The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.

Derived itemized flow · Oct 28, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$15,000.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$15,000.00

Cash: $15,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $15,000.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 10, 2024 to Oct 2, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100985297, 101031291, 101059636, 101070104.

Texas Association of Nurse Anesthetists Political Action Committee$7,500.00

Texas Association of Nurse Anesthetists Political Action Committee

$7,500.00

Cash: $7,500.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $7,500.00

Also funds 38 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Nov 19, 2024 to Oct 5, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 11, 2024 to Sep 12, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100985297, 101069647.

HDCC Incumbent Protection Fund$7,000.00

HDCC Incumbent Protection Fund

$7,000.00

Cash: $7,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $7,000.00

Also funds 8 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Aug 22, 2025 to May 21, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on May 21, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101059636.

Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

×

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$15,000.00

Cash: $15,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $15,000.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 10, 2024 to Oct 2, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100985297, 101031291, 101059636, 101070104.

×

Texas Association of Nurse Anesthetists Political Action Committee

$7,500.00

Cash: $7,500.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $7,500.00

Also funds 38 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Nov 19, 2024 to Oct 5, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 11, 2024 to Sep 12, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100985297, 101069647.

×

HDCC Incumbent Protection Fund

$7,000.00

Cash: $7,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $7,000.00

Also funds 8 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Aug 22, 2025 to May 21, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on May 21, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101059636.

Votes6

House May 28, 2025

Yea: 88
Nay: 49
Present, not voting: 2
Absent: 1
Excused: 10

Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 3990

Representative Howard moved to concur in the senate amendments to HB 2851. The motion to concur in the senate amendments to HB 2851 prevailed by (Record 3990): 88 Yeas, 49 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

Yea: 88 (published)
Nay: 49 (published)
Present, not voting: 2 (published)
Absent: 1 (derived from named list)
Excused: 10 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 26, 2025

Yea: 31
Nay: 0
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

Sources

Senator Kolkhorst moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that CSHB 2851 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

Yea: 31 (published)
Nay: 0 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 26, 2025

Yea: 31
Nay: 0
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

Sources

Senator Kolkhorst moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that CSHB 2851 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

Yea: 31 (published)
Nay: 0 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 26, 2025

Yea: Not printed
Nay: Not printed
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

Voice vote. No numeric tally or individual yeas are inferred.

Sources

The bill was read second time and was passed to third reading by a viva voce vote.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

Yea: Not printed
Nay: Not printed
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House Apr 30, 2025

Yea: 114
Nay: 22
Present, not voting: 1
Absent: 8
Excused: 5

Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 1001

HB 2851 was passed by (Record 1001): 114 Yeas, 22 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

Yea: 114 (published)
Nay: 22 (published)
Present, not voting: 1 (published)
Absent: 8 (derived from named list)
Excused: 5 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House Apr 29, 2025

Yea: 114
Nay: 29
Present, not voting: 1
Absent: 5
Excused: 1

Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 854

HB 2851, as amended, was passed to engrossment by (Record 854): 114 Yeas, 29 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

Yea: 114 (published)
Nay: 29 (published)
Present, not voting: 1 (published)
Absent: 5 (derived from named list)
Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Witnesses17

For: 14
Against: 2
On: 1

Names

For

Alamo Colleges District1 registration
Nursing Legislative Agenda Coalition1 registration
Opportunity Austin1 registration
Self3 registrations
Self; Opportunity Austin1 registration
Self; Opportunity austin1 registration
Self; Texas Nurses Association1 registration
Teaching Hospitals of Texas1 registration
Texas AFT-AAUP1 registration
Texas Association of Health Plans1 registration
Texas Council of Community Centers1 registration
Texas Nurses Association1 registration

Against

Self2 registrations

On

University of Texas System1 registration

Sources

17 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.

House witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Senate witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Fiscal

Net to General Revenue · FY 2026($1,909,059)

LBB estimate, flow · fiscal note version F · ( ) = negative · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version F · May 27, 2025

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB2851, As Passed 2nd House: a negative impact of ($3,728,217) through the biennium ending August 31, 2027. The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.

First year · FY 2026 · ($1,909,059)

Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas House · Filed Feb 14, 2025

06/20/2025 E Effective on 9/1/25

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report · Engrossed · Senate Committee Report · Enrolled

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Companion

SB 2656 by Kolkhorst (identical)

Subjects

Education--Higher--Admission & Attendance

Education--Higher--Health Institutions

Health Care Providers

NURSES & NURSE AIDES

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM

Text

The text as introduced · 137 words

89R6086 AND-D

By: Howard
H.B. No. 2851

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to including nursing school applications in a consolidated

application service.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter S, Chapter 51, Education Code, is

amended by adding Section 51.765 to read as follows:

Sec. 51.765. NURSING SCHOOL APPLICATION CONSOLIDATION. A

service or organization that provides consolidated application

services for applications to medical schools or dental schools,

including the Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service

operated through The University of Texas System, must include

applications for nursing schools in this state.

SECTION 2. Section 51.765, Education Code, as added by this

Act, applies beginning with applications for admission to a nursing

school for the 2026 fall semester.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

Verdict: No flags

The receipt

SOLD BY

ITEM

WHAT IT DOES

CHARGES

TOTAL

HISTORY

SIGNED FOR BY

Donors

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

Texas Association of Nurse Anesthetists Political Action Committee

HDCC Incumbent Protection Fund

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

Texas Association of Nurse Anesthetists Political Action Committee

HDCC Incumbent Protection Fund

House May 28, 2025

Senate May 26, 2025

Senate May 26, 2025

Senate May 26, 2025

House Apr 30, 2025

House Apr 29, 2025

For

Against

On

Companion