Monitoring the Session

SB 2615

bill restricting remote work at public colleges

Became law, effective Sep 1, 2025

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Sen. Brandon CreightonRSenate 4

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 restricting remote work by employees of public institutions of higher education.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

No remote work, except in a few listed cases.

The bill bars Texas public colleges and universities from letting employees work remotely, except in a few listed cases. Remote work stays allowed for workers with a temporary illness, for workers with a medical condition or disability that the law requires the school to accommodate, and for non-teaching staff who meet five performance and job-type tests, including holding a job that needs no physical presence or direct contact with students or coworkers. Starting with the 2025-2026 academic year, teaching staff and most other campus employees would have to work on site, and the Higher Education Coordinating Board may write rules to carry this out.

Labels

Labels: BUZZER BEATER. Final vote May 30, 2025: the Senate concurred in the House amendments. 3 days before the session ended Jun 2, 2025.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB2615 · 2025-03-13

SOLD BY

Sen. Brandon CreightonRSenate 4

ITEM

relating to restricting remote work by employees of public institutions of higher education.

WHAT IT DOES

No remote work, except in a few listed cases.

The bill bars Texas public colleges and universities from letting employees work remotely, except in a few listed cases. Remote work stays allowed for workers with a temporary illness, for workers with a medical condition or disability that the law requires the school to accommodate, and for non-teaching staff who meet five performance and job-type tests, including holding a job that needs no physical presence or direct contact with students or coworkers. Starting with the 2025-2026 academic year, teaching staff and most other campus employees would have to work on site, and the Higher Education Coordinating Board may write rules to carry this out.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version F · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version F · May 28, 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. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  10. Considered in public hearing
  11. Vote taken in committee
  12. Reported favorably as substituted
  13. Committee report printed and distributed
  14. Placed on intent calendar
  15. Not again placed on intent calendar
  16. Placed on intent calendar
  17. Rules suspended-Regular order of business
  18. Record vote
  19. Read 2nd time & passed to engrossment
  20. Record vote
  21. Rules suspended-Regular order of business
  22. Record vote
  23. Read 3rd time
  24. Passed
  25. Record vote
  26. Reported engrossed
  27. Received from the Senate
  28. Read first time
  29. Referred to Higher Education
  30. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  31. Meeting cancelled
  32. Considered in formal meeting
  33. Committee substitute considered in committee
  34. Reported favorably as substituted
  35. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  36. Committee report distributed
  37. Committee report sent to Calendars
  38. Considered in Calendars
  39. Placed on General State Calendar
  40. Read 2nd time
  41. Amended 1-Tepper
  42. Record vote RV#3763
  43. Amended 2-VanDeaver
  44. Record vote RV#3764
  45. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  46. Passed to 3rd reading as amended
  47. Record vote RV#3765
  48. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  49. Read 3rd time
  50. Passed
  51. Record vote RV#3876
  52. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  53. House passage as amended reported
  54. House amendment(s) laid before the Senate
  55. Read
  56. Senate concurs in House amendment(s)
  57. Record vote
  58. Senate concurs in House amendment(s)-reported
  59. Reported enrolled
  60. Signed in the Senate
  61. Signed in the House
  62. Sent to the Governor
  63. Signed by the Governor
  64. Effective on 9/1/25
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 90 yea · 51 nay

Senate · 21 yea · 10 nay

Sources

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

Senate: Final passage · May 8, 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

Brandon Creighton

Donors

Donors report through Friends of Brandon Creighton.

Not tied to this bill.

Sources

The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.

$0 raised since Jul 1, 2024. Derived sum of published report totals. blank in the state's data, consistent with zero. Flow, Jul 1, 2024 through Jun 30, 2026. State filing data as of Nov 4, 2026. 4 of 4 filed reports carry a published figure.

Report 101060909: Published total from the filed report. Retrieved Oct 29, 2026. Filed report 101060909

$0 spent Jan 1, 2026 to Jun 30, 2026. Published total from the filed report. Flow, Jan 1, 2026 through Jun 30, 2026. State filing data as of Nov 4, 2026. 1 of 1 filed reports carry a published figure.

Report 101060909: Published total from the filed report. Retrieved Oct 29, 2026. Filed report 101060909

$0 cash on hand. Published report total. Stock, as of Jun 30, 2026. State filing data as of Nov 4, 2026.

$0 loans outstanding. Published report total. Stock, as of Jun 30, 2026. State filing data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived sum of itemized contributions in regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Unitemized contributions are not included. Flow, Jul 1, 2024 through Jun 30, 2026. State filing data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Money

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

Votes9

Senate May 30, 2025

Yea
21
Nay
10
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

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

Senate journal

Sources

Senator Creighton moved to concur in the House amendments to SB 2615. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 21, Nays 10.

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

  • Yea: 21 (published)
  • Nay: 10 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

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

House May 28, 2025

Yea
90
Nay
51
Present, not voting
1
Absent
1
Excused
7
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 3876

SB 2615 was passed by (Record 3876): 90 Yeas, 51 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 90 (published)
  • Nay: 51 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 1 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 7 (derived from named list)

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

House May 27, 2025

Yea
92
Nay
53
Present, not voting
1
Absent
1
Excused
3
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 3765

CSSB 2615, as amended, was passed to third reading by (Record 3765): 92 Yeas, 53 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 92 (published)
  • Nay: 53 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 1 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 3 (derived from named list)

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

House May 27, 2025

Yea
127
Nay
15
Present, not voting
1
Absent
4
Excused
3
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 3764

Amendment No. 2 was adopted by (Record 3764): 127 Yeas, 15 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 127 (published)
  • Nay: 15 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 4 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 3 (derived from named list)

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

House May 27, 2025

Yea
111
Nay
33
Present, not voting
1
Absent
2
Excused
3
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 3763

Amendment No. 1 was adopted by (Record 3763): 111 Yeas, 33 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 111 (published)
  • Nay: 33 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 2 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 3 (derived from named list)

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

Senate May 8, 2025

Yea
21
Nay
10
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

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

Senate journal

Sources

The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 21, Nays 10. (Same as previous roll call)

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

  • Yea: 21 (published)
  • Nay: 10 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

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

Senate May 8, 2025

Yea
21
Nay
10
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

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

Senate journal

Sources

Senator Middleton, on behalf of Senator Creighton, moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration CSSB 2615 at this time on its third reading and final passage: CSSB 2615, Relating to restricting remote work by employees of public institutions of higher education. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 21, Nays 10.

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

  • Yea: 21 (published)
  • Nay: 10 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

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

Senate May 7, 2025

Yea
21
Nay
10
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

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

Senate journal

Sources

The bill was read second time and was passed to engrossment by the following vote: Yeas 21, Nays 10. (Same as previous roll call)

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

  • Yea: 21 (published)
  • Nay: 10 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

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

Senate May 7, 2025

Yea
21
Nay
10
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

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

Senate journal

Sources

Senator Creighton moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration CSSB 2615 at this time on its second reading: CSSB 2615, Relating to restricting remote work by employees of public institutions of higher education. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 21, Nays 10.

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

  • Yea: 21 (published)
  • Nay: 10 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

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

Witnesses2
For
0
Against
2
On
0
Names

Against

  • Every Texan1 registration
  • Self1 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 F · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version F · May 28, 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 Mar 13, 2025

06/20/2025 E Effective on 9/1/25

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
Carl H. TepperRHouse 84

House committee · Higher Education · Committee vote 7 aye, 3 nay, 1 absent · Out of committee

Senate committee · Education K-16 · Committee vote 8 aye, 2 nay, 1 absent · Out of committee

Subjects

Disabilities, Persons with

Education--Higher--Faculty

Education--Higher--Institutions & Programs

Electronic Information Systems

Labor--General

TELECOMMUTING

HIGHER EDUCATION COORDINATING BOARD, TEXAS

Text

The text as introduced · 326 words

89R14232 JTZ-D

By: Creighton
S.B. No. 2615

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to restricting remote work by employees of public

institutions of higher education.

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

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

amended by adding Section 51.992 to read as follows:

Sec. 51.992. RESTRICTIONS ON REMOTE WORK BY HIGHER

EDUCATION EMPLOYEES. (a) In this section, "institution of higher

education" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003.

(b) Notwithstanding Section 658.010, Government Code, an

institution of higher education may not allow an employee to work

remotely except as provided by this section.

(c) An institution of higher education may allow an employee

to work remotely on a temporary or permanent basis if the employee:

(1) has a temporary illness;

(2) has a temporary or permanent medical condition or

disability requiring the institution to make a reasonable

accommodation under state or federal law for the employee to work

remotely; or

(3) is employed in a non-teaching position and:

(A) has demonstrated the ability to work well

with minimal supervision;

(B) has a deep understanding of the employee's

duties and responsibilities;

(C) has demonstrated the ability to manage the

employee's time;

(D) has a record of thoroughly and efficiently

accomplishing the employee's duties; and

(E) is employed in a position that does not

require the employee's physical presence at the institution or

direct interaction with students, administration, or other

employees.

(d) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board may adopt

rules as necessary to implement this section.

SECTION 2. Section 51.992, Education Code, as added by this

Act, applies beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year.

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.