Monitoring the Session

SB 1400

Kolkhorst’s bill on counting transfer students for funding

Became law

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Sen. Lois KolkhorstRSenate 18

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 measurable outcomes for certain transfer students for performance tier funding under the public junior college state finance program.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Changes how community colleges get credit for students who transfer.

The bill changes how the state counts transfer students when it pays community colleges under the performance-based funding formula. It touches public junior colleges and students who move from a community college to a public university, including students who took some university classes before. A student who earned fewer than 30 credit hours at a university before coming to the community college now counts as a transfer student, so the college can get performance credit for that student starting September 1, 2025.

Labels

Labels: INSTANT LAW. Took effect immediately, on Jun 20, 2025. 833 of the 1,185 graded 89R laws took effect Sep 1, 2025 (derived from the bill histories, snapshot Oct 19, 2026).

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB1400 · 2025-02-19

SOLD BY

Sen. Lois KolkhorstRSenate 18

ITEM

relating to measurable outcomes for certain transfer students for performance tier funding under the public junior college state finance program.

WHAT IT DOES

Changes how community colleges get credit for students who transfer.

The bill changes how the state counts transfer students when it pays community colleges under the performance-based funding formula. It touches public junior colleges and students who move from a community college to a public university, including students who took some university classes before. A student who earned fewer than 30 credit hours at a university before coming to the community college now counts as a transfer student, so the college can get performance credit for that student starting September 1, 2025.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version S · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version S · May 8, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

  1. Received by the Secretary of the Senate
  2. Filed
  3. Read first time
  4. Referred to Education K-16
  5. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  6. Considered in public hearing
  7. Testimony taken in committee
  8. Left pending in committee
  9. Considered in public hearing
  10. Vote taken in committee
  11. Reported favorably as substituted
  12. Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
  13. Committee report printed and distributed
  14. Placed on intent calendar
  15. Rules suspended-Regular order of business
  16. Vote recorded in Journal
  17. Read 2nd time & passed to engrossment
  18. Vote recorded in Journal
  19. Three day rule suspended
  20. Record vote
  21. Read 3rd time
  22. Passed
  23. Record vote
  24. Reported engrossed
  25. Received from the Senate
  26. Read first time
  27. Referred to Higher Education
  28. Considered in formal meeting
  29. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  30. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  31. Committee report distributed
  32. Committee report sent to Calendars
  33. Considered in Calendars
  34. Placed on General State Calendar
  35. Read 2nd time
  36. Passed to 3rd reading
  37. Record vote RV#3628
  38. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  39. Read 3rd time
  40. Postponed 5/28/25 10:00 AM
  41. Laid out as postponed business
  42. Passed
  43. Record vote RV#3936
  44. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  45. House passage reported
  46. Reported enrolled
  47. Signed in the Senate
  48. Signed in the House
  49. Sent to the Governor
  50. Signed by the Governor
  51. Effective immediately
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 101 yea · 34 nay

Senate · 29 yea · 1 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 28, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · May 12, 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

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Lois Kolkhorst

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$60KBorder Health PAC$35KSRR Ranches, LLC$30K

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 · Jul 11, 2024 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.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$60,000.00

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$60,000.00

Cash
$60,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$60,000.00

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 · Nov 19, 2024 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: 101007416, 101012417, 101070754.

Border Health PAC$35,000.00

Border Health PAC

$35,000.00

Cash
$35,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$35,000.00

Also funds 17 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Oct 28, 2024 to Aug 26, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Dec 6, 2024. 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: 101012417.

SRR Ranches, LLC$30,000.00

SRR Ranches, LLC

$30,000.00

Cash
$30,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$30,000.00

Also funds 3 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Oct 23, 2024 to Oct 8, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 23, 2024 to Oct 1, 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: 101012417, 101070754.

Money

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

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$60,000.00

Cash
$60,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$60,000.00

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 · Nov 19, 2024 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: 101007416, 101012417, 101070754.

×

Border Health PAC

$35,000.00

Cash
$35,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$35,000.00

Also funds 17 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Oct 28, 2024 to Aug 26, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Dec 6, 2024. 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: 101012417.

×

SRR Ranches, LLC

$30,000.00

Cash
$30,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$30,000.00

Also funds 3 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Oct 23, 2024 to Oct 8, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 23, 2024 to Oct 1, 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: 101012417, 101070754.

Votes5

House May 28, 2025

Yea
101
Nay
34
Present, not voting
1
Absent
6
Excused
8
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 3936

SB 1400 was passed by (Record 3936): 101 Yeas, 34 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 101 (published)
  • Nay: 34 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 6 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 8 (derived from named list)

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

House May 27, 2025

Yea
99
Nay
39
Present, not voting
2
Absent
9
Excused
1
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 3628

SB 1400 was passed to third reading by (Record 3628): 99 Yeas, 39 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 99 (published)
  • Nay: 39 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 9 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

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

Senate May 12, 2025

Yea
29
Nay
1
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
1
Names

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

Senate journal

Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.

Sources

The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 1. (Same as previous roll call)

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

  • Yea: 29 (published)
  • Nay: 1 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

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

Senate May 12, 2025

Yea
29
Nay
1
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
1
Names

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

Senate journal

Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.

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 CSSB 1400 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 1.

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

  • Yea: 29 (published)
  • Nay: 1 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

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

Senate May 12, 2025

Yea
Not printed
Nay
Not printed
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
1
Names

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

Senate journal

Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.

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

Sources

Senator Kolkhorst moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration CSSB 1400 at this time on its second reading: CSSB 1400, Relating to a study on measurable outcomes for certain transfer students for performance tier funding under the public junior college state finance program. The motion prevailed. Senator Sparks asked to be recorded as voting "Nay" on suspension of the regular order of business. The bill was read second time and was passed to engrossment 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: 1 (derived from named list)

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

Witnesses2
For
1
Against
0
On
1
Names

For

  • Alamo Colleges District1 registration

On

  • Blinn College District1 registration
Sources

2 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

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

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

Fiscal

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version S · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version S · May 8, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

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 Senate · Filed Feb 19, 2025

06/20/2025 E Effective immediately

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

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

Sponsors
Stan KitzmanRHouse 85

House committee · Higher Education · Committee vote 8 aye, 2 nay, 1 absent · Out of committee

Senate committee · Education K-16 · Committee vote 11 aye, 0 nay · Out of committee

Subjects

Education--Higher--Admission & Attendance

Education--Higher--Finance

Education--Higher--Institutions & Programs

Education--Junior College Districts

Interim Studies

TRANSFER STUDENTS

HIGHER EDUCATION COORDINATING BOARD, TEXAS

Text

The text as introduced · 364 words

89R11772 KJE-D

By: Kolkhorst
S.B. No. 1400

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to measurable outcomes for certain transfer students for

performance tier funding under the public junior college state

finance program.

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

SECTION 1. Section 130A.003, Education Code, is amended by

adding Subdivision (2-a) to read as follows:

(2-a) "General academic teaching institution" has the

meaning assigned by Section 61.003.

SECTION 2. Section 130A.101, Education Code, is amended by

amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (d) to read as

follows:

(c) The measurable outcomes considered for purposes of

performance tier funding are:

(1) the number of credentials of value awarded, as

determined by the coordinating board based on analyses of wages and

costs associated with the credential, including degrees,

certificates, and other credentials from credit and non-credit

programs that equip students for continued learning and greater

earnings in the state economy, with an additional weight for

placement of students who earn that credential in a high-demand

occupation, as defined by coordinating board rule, or an

appropriate proxy determined by the coordinating board based on

available data;

(2) the number of students who earn at least 15

semester credit hours or the equivalent at the junior college

district and:

(A) subsequently transfer to a general academic

teaching institution[ , as that term is defined by Section 61.003 ];

or

(B) are enrolled in a structured co-enrollment

program, as authorized by coordinating board rule; and

(3) the number of students who complete a sequence of

at least 15 semester credit hours or the equivalent for dual credit

or dual enrollment courses, as defined by coordinating board rule,

that apply toward academic or workforce program requirements at the

postsecondary level.

(d) For purposes of Subsection (c)(2), a student

transferring from a public junior college to a general academic

teaching institution shall be considered a transfer student

regardless of whether the student previously completed coursework

at a general academic teaching institution if the student

previously completed less than 30 semester credit hours or the

equivalent at a general academic teaching institution at the time

of transfer.

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