bill waiving college tuition under $100,000 household income

The text as introduced · 475 words

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.