Monitoring the Session

SB 2376

bill letting students get transcripts despite small or old debts

Died in committee

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Sen. Nathan JohnsonDSenate 16

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 student access to certain academic records held by a public institution of higher education or career school or college; authorizing fees.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Under $500 or over five years old? Schools release the records.

The bill stops Texas public colleges and career schools from holding back a student's transcript, diploma, or training certificate over a debt that is under $500 or more than five years old. For larger debts, the school may require a repayment plan but must release the records once the student starts paying. It covers current and former students, and it lets schools charge a records fee capped at the cost of printing, mailing, or electronically sending the document.

Labels

Labels: FEE INCLUDED. The caption of the graded version (introduced) reads: “relating to student access to certain academic records held by a public institution of higher education or career school or college; authorizing fees.”NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 12, 2025 and referred to the Senate Education K-16 committee. No public hearing. The bill died.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB2376 · 2025-03-12

SOLD BY

Sen. Nathan JohnsonDSenate 16

ITEM

relating to student access to certain academic records held by a public institution of higher education or career school or college; authorizing fees.

WHAT IT DOES

Under $500 or over five years old? Schools release the records.

The bill stops Texas public colleges and career schools from holding back a student's transcript, diploma, or training certificate over a debt that is under $500 or more than five years old. For larger debts, the school may require a repayment plan but must release the records once the student starts paying. It covers current and former students, and it lets schools charge a records fee capped at the cost of printing, mailing, or electronically sending the document.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

HISTORY

  1. Received by the Secretary of the Senate
  2. Filed
  3. Read first time
  4. Referred to Education K-16
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Nathan Johnson

Donors

Daniel Cocanougher$250,000Texas Sands PAC$130KMarguerite Hoffman$125,000

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 1, 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.

Daniel Cocanougher$250,000.00
Texas Sands PAC$129,500.00

Texas Sands PAC

$129,500.00

Cash
$129,500.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$129,500.00

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 · Nov 27, 2024 to May 12, 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: 100990378, 101033698, 101040111, 101052272.

Marguerite Hoffman$125,000.00
Money

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

×

Texas Sands PAC

$129,500.00

Cash
$129,500.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$129,500.00

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 · Nov 27, 2024 to May 12, 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: 100990378, 101033698, 101040111, 101052272.

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 Senate · Filed Mar 12, 2025

03/25/2025 S Referred to Education K-16

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced

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

Senate committee · Education K-16 · Final status: Died in committee

Companion

HB 2490 by Bucy (identical)

Subjects

Education--Higher--General

Education--Higher--Student Fees

Education--Nonpublic Schools--Vocational/Avocational

Text

The text as introduced · 489 words

89R10353 RDR-F

By: Johnson
S.B. No. 2376

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to student access to certain academic records held by a

public institution of higher education or career school or college;

authorizing fees.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is

amended by adding Section 51.9716 to read as follows:

Sec. 51.9716. STUDENT TRANSCRIPTS AND DIPLOMAS. (a) In

this section:

(1) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning

assigned by Section 61.003.

(2) "Student" includes a former student.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, an

institution of higher education may not withhold a student's

transcript or diploma on the basis that the student has not

fulfilled the student's financial obligation to the institution if

the student's outstanding financial obligation to the institution:

(1) is less than $500; or

(2) has been outstanding for more than five years.

(c) An institution of higher education may require a student

with an outstanding financial obligation to the institution of $500

or more to enter into a repayment plan with the institution before

releasing the student's transcript or diploma to the student. The

institution must release the transcript or diploma to the student

on the student's initiation of payment under the repayment plan.

(d) An institution of higher education may charge a student

a fee in connection with the release of a transcript or diploma.

The amount of the fee may not exceed the cost of materials used to

print, mail, or electronically send the transcript or diploma.

SECTION 2. Section 132.062, Education Code, is amended to

read as follows:

Sec. 132.062. STUDENT [ WITHHOLDING ] RECORDS. (a) A career

school or college may not withhold a student's transcript or

certificate of completion of training on the basis that [ until ] the

student has not fulfilled the student's financial obligation to the

school or college if the student's outstanding financial obligation

to the school or college:

(1) is less than $500; or

(2) has been outstanding for more than five years .

(b) A career school or college may require a student with an

outstanding financial obligation to the school or college of $500

or more to enter into a repayment plan with the school or college

before releasing the student's transcript or certificate of

completion of training to the student. The career school or college

must release the transcript or certificate to the student on the

student's initiation of payment under the repayment plan.

(c) A career school or college may charge a student a fee in

connection with the release of a transcript or certificate of

completion of training. The amount of the fee may not exceed the

cost of materials used to print, mail, or electronically send the

transcript or certificate.

(d) For purposes of this section, "student" includes a

former student.

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