bill widens free tuition for Texas peace officers

The text as introduced · 375 words

89R2098 JTZ-D

By: Hughes
S.B. No. 2097

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to tuition and fee exemptions at public institutions of

higher education for certain peace officers.

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

SECTION 1. Section 54.3531, Education Code, is amended by

amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as

follows:

(a) The governing board of an institution of higher

education shall exempt from the payment of tuition and laboratory

fees charged by the institution for a [ criminal justice or law

enforcement ] course or courses a [ an undergraduate ] student who:

(1) is employed as a peace officer by this state or by

a political subdivision of this state;

(2) is enrolled in a [ criminal justice or ] law

enforcement-related degree program at the institution;

(3) is making satisfactory academic progress toward

the student's degree as determined by the institution; and

(4) applies for the exemption at least one week before

the last date of the institution's regular registration period for

the applicable semester or other term.

(a-1) For purposes of Subsection (a)(2), a law

enforcement-related degree program includes a program in:

(1) criminal justice;

(2) political science, public administration, and

public affairs;

(3) emergency management;

(4) youth and community studies;

(5) law;

(6) Spanish or any other foreign language commonly

spoken in this state;

(7) business administration and accounting, including

forensic accounting;

(8) psychology;

(9) social work, including clinical social work;

(10) nursing;

(11) chemistry;

(12) biology;

(13) forensic science; or

(14) computer science, data science, and

cybersecurity.

SECTION 2. Section 54.3531, Education Code, as amended by

this Act, applies beginning with tuition and other fees charged for

the 2025 fall semester. Tuition and other 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 3. 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.