Monitoring the Session

SB 262

second path to a CPA certificate

Became law

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Sen. Charles PerryRSenate 28

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 eligibility requirements to practice public accountancy.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Accounting bachelor’s plus two years of work, no 150 hours.

The bill adds a second path to a Texas CPA certificate: a person can qualify with a bachelor's degree with an accounting concentration instead of 150 semester hours, if they complete two years of work experience set by board rule. It touches people seeking to become CPAs and the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy, which must write rules to carry out the change. It also lets the board accept CPA exam credit earned in other states when the exam was prepared and graded by the national accountancy groups named in the bill, and the law takes effect September 1, 2025.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB262 · 2024-11-12

SOLD BY

+ 1 coauthor

ITEM

relating to eligibility requirements to practice public accountancy.

WHAT IT DOES

Accounting bachelor’s plus two years of work, no 150 hours.

The bill adds a second path to a Texas CPA certificate: a person can qualify with a bachelor's degree with an accounting concentration instead of 150 semester hours, if they complete two years of work experience set by board rule. It touches people seeking to become CPAs and the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy, which must write rules to carry out the change. It also lets the board accept CPA exam credit earned in other states when the exam was prepared and graded by the national accountancy groups named in the bill, and the law takes effect September 1, 2025.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · April 22, 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 Business & Commerce
  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. Co-author authorized
  16. Rules suspended-Constitutional 60-Day
  17. Rules suspended-Regular order of business
  18. Read 2nd time
  19. Amendment(s) offered FA1 Perry
  20. Amended
  21. Vote recorded in Journal
  22. Passed to engrossment as amended
  23. Vote recorded in Journal
  24. Three day rule suspended
  25. Record vote
  26. Read 3rd time
  27. Passed
  28. Record vote
  29. Reported engrossed
  30. Received from the Senate
  31. Read first time
  32. Referred to Licensing & Administrative Procedures
  33. Considered in public hearing
  34. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  35. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  36. Committee report distributed
  37. Laid out in lieu of companion HB 1757
  38. Read 2nd time
  39. Passed to 3rd reading
  40. Record vote RV#457
  41. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  42. Read 3rd time
  43. Passed
  44. Record vote RV#463
  45. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  46. House passage reported
  47. Reported enrolled
  48. Committee report sent to Calendars
  49. Signed in the Senate
  50. Signed in the House
  51. Sent to the Governor
  52. Signed by the Governor
  53. Effective on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . August 1, 2026
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 144 yea · 0 nay

Senate · 31 yea · 0 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · Apr 24, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · Mar 11, 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

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 · Jul 1, 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 13, 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: 100983698, 101007598, 101030579, 101072377.

Ryan Texas PAC$35,000.00

Ryan Texas PAC

$35,000.00

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

Also funds 25 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 23, 2024 to Oct 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 13, 2024 to Mar 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: 100983698, 101057700.

Fort Stockton Holdings LP$25,000.00

Fort Stockton Holdings LP

$25,000.00

Cash
$25,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$25,000.00

Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · on Nov 23, 2024. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Nov 23, 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: 100983698.

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 13, 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: 100983698, 101007598, 101030579, 101072377.

×

Ryan Texas PAC

$35,000.00

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

Also funds 25 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 23, 2024 to Oct 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 13, 2024 to Mar 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: 100983698, 101057700.

×

Fort Stockton Holdings LP

$25,000.00

Cash
$25,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$25,000.00

Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · on Nov 23, 2024. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Nov 23, 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: 100983698.

Votes5

House Apr 24, 2025

Yea
144
Nay
0
Present, not voting
2
Absent
3
Excused
1
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 463

SB 262 was passed by (Record 463): 144 Yeas, 0 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 144 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 3 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

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

House Apr 23, 2025

Yea
147
Nay
0
Present, not voting
1
Absent
2
Excused
0
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 457

SB 262 was passed to third reading by (Record 457): 147 Yeas, 0 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 147 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 2 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

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

Senate Mar 11, 2025

Yea
31
Nay
0
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

Sources

Senator Perry moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that CSSB 262 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

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

  • Yea: 31 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

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

Senate Mar 11, 2025

Yea
31
Nay
0
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

Sources

Senator Perry moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that CSSB 262 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

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

  • Yea: 31 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

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

Senate Mar 11, 2025

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

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

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

Sources

CSSB 262 as amended 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: Not printed

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

Witnesses8
For
7
Against
0
On
1
Names

For

  • HB Strategies1 registration
  • RSM1 registration
  • Self; Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants1 registration
  • Self; Texas Society of CPAs1 registration
  • Texas Society of CPAs1 registration
  • Texas State Board of Accountancy1 registration
  • Weaver and Tidwell, LLP1 registration

On

  • Self1 registration
Sources

8 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 E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · April 22, 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 Nov 12, 2024

05/08/2025 E Effective on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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.

Coauthors
Sponsors
Cosponsors

House committee · Licensing & Administrative Procedures · Committee vote 11 aye, 0 nay, 2 absent · Out of committee

Senate committee · Business & Commerce · Committee vote 11 aye, 0 nay · Out of committee

Companion

HB 1757 by Button (identical)

Subjects

Occupational Regulation--Other Trades & Professions

ACCOUNTING & ACCOUNTANTS

PUBLIC ACCOUNTANCY, TEXAS STATE BOARD OF

Text

The text as introduced · 483 words

2025S0001-1 10/14/24

By: Perry
S.B. No. 262

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to eligibility requirements to practice public

accountancy.

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

SECTION 1. Section 901.252, Occupations Code, is amended to

read as follows:

Sec. 901.252. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS. To be eligible to

receive a certificate, a person must:

(1) satisfy the requirements of Section 901.253;

(2) complete :

(A) at least 150 semester hours or quarter-hour

equivalents in board-recognized courses, including an accounting

concentration or equivalent courses that meet the education

requirements established under Section 901.254, as determined by

board rule; or

(B) a baccalaureate degree with an accounting

concentration or equivalent courses that meet the education

requirements established under Section 901.254, as determined by

board rule;

(3) pass the uniform CPA examination;

(4) meet the work experience requirements established

under Section 901.256; and

(5) pass an examination on the rules of professional

conduct as determined by board rule.

SECTION 2. Section 901.256, Occupations Code, is amended by

adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:

(a-1) To be eligible to receive a certificate with a

baccalaureate degree under Section 901.252(2)(B), a person must

complete two years of experience as determined by board rule.

SECTION 3. Section 901.258(a), Occupations Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(a) The board may accept the completion of the uniform CPA

examination given by the licensing authority of another state if:

(1) the examination was prepared and graded by the

American Institute of Certified Public Accountants or, if doing so

would result in a greater degree of reciprocity with the

examination results of other states, the National Association of

State Boards of Accountancy; and

(2) the applicant met the requirements in effect in

this state , as determined by board rule, at the time the credit was

earned.

SECTION 4. Section 901.312(a), Occupations Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(a) The board may accept the partial completion of the

uniform CPA examination given by the licensing authority of another

state if:

(1) the examination was prepared and graded by the

American Institute of Certified Public Accountants or, if doing so

would result in a greater degree of reciprocity with the

examination results of other states, the National Association of

State Boards of Accountancy;

(2) the credit is active in the other state; and

(3) at the time the credit was earned, the applicant

met the requirements in effect in the other state and the other

state's standards are equal to or higher than the standards

prescribed by this chapter or a rule adopted under this chapter .

SECTION 5. As soon as practicable after the effective date

of this Act, the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy shall adopt

rules as necessary to implement the changes in law made by this Act

to Chapter 901, Occupations Code.

SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.