HB 3976: bill waiving license renewal fees for college instructors

Caption

relating to the waiver of license renewal fees for certain instructors in high-demand fields at public institutions of higher education.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Ten license types, from nurses to plumbers, teaching in their field.

The bill orders state licensing agencies to waive license renewal fees for college faculty and adjunct professors who teach in the field their license covers. It reaches ten listed license types, including nurses, pharmacists, radiologic technologists, respiratory therapists, engineers, plumbers, air conditioning contractors, electricians, and teachers, when the holder teaches at a Texas public college or university. Starting September 1, 2025, those instructors stop paying renewal fees, and the licensing agencies collect less money.

Labels

Labels: ACROSS THE AISLE. Joint authors: 3 Republicans, 2 Democrats. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.GOT HALFWAY. Passed the House on May 15, 2025. Died in the Senate: never got out of the Business & Commerce committee.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB3976 · 2025-03-06

SOLD BY

Rep. Angie Chen ButtonRHouse 112

Rep. John T. SmitheeRHouse 86

Rep. Mihaela PlesaDHouse 70

+ 2 more authors

ITEM

relating to the waiver of license renewal fees for certain instructors in high-demand fields at public institutions of higher education.

WHAT IT DOES

Ten license types, from nurses to plumbers, teaching in their field.

The bill orders state licensing agencies to waive license renewal fees for college faculty and adjunct professors who teach in the field their license covers. It reaches ten listed license types, including nurses, pharmacists, radiologic technologists, respiratory therapists, engineers, plumbers, air conditioning contractors, electricians, and teachers, when the holder teaches at a Texas public college or university. Starting September 1, 2025, those instructors stop paying renewal fees, and the licensing agencies collect less money.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

Net to General Revenue · FY 2026($1,118,000)

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

Sources

Fiscal note · version H · April 30, 2025

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB3976, Committee Report 1st House, Substituted: a negative impact of ($2,245,000) 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 · ($1,118,000)

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

Mar 6, 2025Filed
Mar 27, 2025Read first time
Mar 27, 2025Referred to Higher Education
Apr 15, 2025Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Apr 15, 2025Considered in public hearing
Apr 15, 2025Committee substitute considered in committee
Apr 15, 2025Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
Apr 15, 2025Left pending in committee
Apr 29, 2025Considered in public hearing
Apr 29, 2025Committee substitute considered in committee
Apr 29, 2025Reported favorably as substituted
May 5, 2025Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
May 5, 2025Committee report distributed
May 6, 2025Committee report sent to Calendars
May 9, 2025Considered in Calendars
May 11, 2025Placed on General State Calendar
May 14, 2025Read 2nd time
May 14, 2025Passed to engrossment
May 14, 2025Record vote RV#2535
May 14, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
May 15, 2025Read 3rd time
May 15, 2025Passed
May 15, 2025Record vote RV#2647
May 15, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
May 15, 2025Reported engrossed
May 15, 2025Received from the House
May 21, 2025Read first time
May 21, 2025Referred to Business & Commerce

FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 105 yea · 36 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 15, 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

Angie Chen Button

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$762K Texas Conservative Majority PAC$633K Texas Sands PAC$265K

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.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$762,071.41

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$762,071.41

Cash: $55,000.00
Paid by others: $707,071.41
Total: $762,071.41

advertising $195,740.00digital $125,000.00tv $125,000.00grassroots $121,840.00mail $61,081.06Other filed descriptions $45,000.00polling $33,410.35

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 27, 2025 to Oct 23, 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: 100992420, 101010417, 101032581, 101042428, 101058017, 101069955.

Texas Conservative Majority PAC$632,800.00

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$632,800.00

Cash: $102,000.00
Paid by others: $530,800.00
Total: $632,800.00

canvassing $300,000.00digital $225,000.00polling $5,800.00

Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.

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

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Feb 20, 2026 to Oct 23, 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: 101035728, 101058017, 101069955.

Texas Sands PAC$264,500.00

Texas Sands PAC

$264,500.00

Cash: $264,500.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $264,500.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 23, 2025 to Oct 9, 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: 101010417, 101035728, 101058017, 101069955.

Money

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

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$762,071.41

Cash: $55,000.00
Paid by others: $707,071.41
Total: $762,071.41

advertising $195,740.00digital $125,000.00tv $125,000.00grassroots $121,840.00mail $61,081.06Other filed descriptions $45,000.00polling $33,410.35

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 27, 2025 to Oct 23, 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: 100992420, 101010417, 101032581, 101042428, 101058017, 101069955.

×

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$632,800.00

Cash: $102,000.00
Paid by others: $530,800.00
Total: $632,800.00

canvassing $300,000.00digital $225,000.00polling $5,800.00

Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.

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

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Feb 20, 2026 to Oct 23, 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: 101035728, 101058017, 101069955.

×

Texas Sands PAC

$264,500.00

Cash: $264,500.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $264,500.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 23, 2025 to Oct 9, 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: 101010417, 101035728, 101058017, 101069955.

Votes2

House May 15, 2025

Yea: 105
Nay: 36
Present, not voting: 2
Absent: 4
Excused: 3

Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 2647

HB 3976 was passed by (Record 2647): 105 Yeas, 36 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

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

Yea: 105 (published)
Nay: 36 (published)
Present, not voting: 2 (published)
Absent: 4 (derived from named list)
Excused: 3 (derived from named list)

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

House May 14, 2025

Yea: 108
Nay: 23
Present, not voting: 2
Absent: 8
Excused: 9

Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 2535

CSHB 3976 was passed to engrossment by (Record 2535): 108 Yeas, 23 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

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

Yea: 108 (published)
Nay: 23 (published)
Present, not voting: 2 (published)
Absent: 8 (derived from named list)
Excused: 9 (derived from named list)

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

Witnesses9

For: 8
Against: 0
On: 1

Names

For

Educate Texas1 registration
Greater Houston Partnership1 registration
Opportunity Austin1 registration
San Jacinto College1 registration
Self; Opportunity austin1 registration
Self; Texas Nurses Association1 registration
Texas Association of Community Colleges (TACC)1 registration
Texas Business Leadership Council1 registration

On

TDLR1 registration

Sources

9 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.

Fiscal

Net to General Revenue · FY 2026($1,118,000)

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

Sources

Fiscal note · version H · April 30, 2025

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB3976, Committee Report 1st House, Substituted: a negative impact of ($2,245,000) 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 · ($1,118,000)

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 Mar 6, 2025

05/21/2025 S Referred to Business & Commerce

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report · Engrossed

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

House committee · Higher Education · Committee vote 10 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent · Out of committee

Senate committee · Business & Commerce · Final status: Died in committee

Companion

SB 1969 by Middleton (identical)

Subjects

Education--Higher--Faculty

Education--Higher--Health Institutions

Education--Higher--Institutions & Programs

Fees & Other Nontax Revenue--State

Occupational Regulation--Health Occupations

Occupational Regulation--Other Trades & Professions

Text

The text as introduced · 262 words

By: Button
H.B. No. 3976

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the waiver of license renewal fees for certain

instructors in high-demand fields at public institutions of higher

education.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 57, Occupations Code, is amended by

adding Subchapter D to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER D. WAIVER OF LICENSE RENEWAL FEES FOR CERTAIN

INSTRUCTORS IN HIGH-DEMAND FIELDS

Sec. 57.151. WAIVER OF LICENSE RENEWAL FEES. (a) In this

section, "institution of higher education" has the meaning assigned

by Section 61.003, Education Code.

(b) This section applies only to a license to practice as:

(1) a registered nurse or vocational nurse under

Chapter 301;

(2) a pharmacist under Chapter 558;

(3) a medical radiologic technologist under Chapter

601;

(4) a respiratory care practitioner under Chapter 604;

(5) an engineer under Chapter 1001;

(6) a journeyman plumber or master plumber under

Chapter 1301;

(7) an air conditioning and refrigeration contractor

under Chapter 1302;

(8) a journeyman electrician or master electrician

under Chapter 1305;

(9) an educator under Subchapter B, Chapter 21,

Education Code; or

(10) a bilingual education or special language program

teacher under Section 29.061, Education Code.

(c) A state agency that issues a license to which this

section applies by rule shall waive the license renewal fee for a

faculty member as defined by Section 51.101, Education Code, or

adjunct professor at an institution of higher education who

provides instruction in the field for which the license is

required.

SECTION 2. 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

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

Texas Sands PAC

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

Texas Sands PAC

House May 15, 2025

House May 14, 2025

For

On

Companion