HB 978
bill keeps immigration status out of campus discipline
Died in committee
Verdict: No flags
Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade
Caption
relating to prohibiting a public institution of higher education from considering a student's immigration status for purposes of the institution's disciplinary process.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Public colleges can’t weigh it in any disciplinary decision.
The bill bars public colleges and universities in Texas from considering a student's immigration status when making any decision in their student disciplinary process. It touches every public institution of higher education and the students who go through campus discipline, including students who are not citizens. On the ground, a school could not weigh or use immigration status in disciplinary findings or sanctions, starting immediately with a two-thirds vote or otherwise on September 1, 2025.
Labels
Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Nov 12, 2024 and referred to the House Higher Education committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-HB978 · 2024-11-12
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to prohibiting a public institution of higher education from considering a student's immigration status for purposes of the institution's disciplinary process.
WHAT IT DOES
Public colleges can’t weigh it in any disciplinary decision.
The bill bars public colleges and universities in Texas from considering a student's immigration status when making any decision in their student disciplinary process. It touches every public institution of higher education and the students who go through campus discipline, including students who are not citizens. On the ground, a school could not weigh or use immigration status in disciplinary findings or sanctions, starting immediately with a two-thirds vote or otherwise on September 1, 2025.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to Higher Education
FILED UNDER
No verified beat found.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Donors
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 May 28, 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.
Teans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$5,000.00
Teans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$5,000.00
- Cash
- $5,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $5,000.00
Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · on Jul 3, 2025. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · on Jul 3, 2025. 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: 101033926.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Teans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$5,000.00
- Cash
- $5,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $5,000.00
Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · on Jul 3, 2025. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · on Jul 3, 2025. 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: 101033926.
Votes
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
Fiscal
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
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 Nov 12, 2024
03/06/2025 H Referred to Higher Education: Mar 6 2025 11:42AM
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
House committee · Higher Education · Final status: Died in committee
Subjects
Aliens
Education--Higher--General
Text
The text as introduced · 161 words
89R949 KJE-D By: Cain H.B. No. 978 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to prohibiting a public institution of higher education from considering a student's immigration status for purposes of the institution's disciplinary process. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 51.9365 to read as follows: Sec. 51.9365. CERTAIN CONSIDERATIONS IN DISCIPLINARY PROCESS PROHIBITED. (a) In this section, "institution of higher education" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003. (b) An institution of higher education may not consider a student's immigration status in making any determination related to the institution's disciplinary process. SECTION 2. 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.