bill freezing public tuition at 2025-2026 levels

The text as introduced · 896 words

89R8121 RDR-F

By: Blanco
S.B. No. 915

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a limitation on the amount of tuition charged by public

institutions of higher education.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 54, Education Code, is

amended by adding Section 54.0514 to read as follows:

Sec. 54.0514. LIMITATION ON TOTAL AMOUNT OF TUITION. (a)

In this section, "tuition" includes:

(1) tuition for which the rates are prescribed by this

chapter; and

(2) tuition charged by an institution of higher

education under Section 54.0513 or another law authorizing an

institution to establish tuition rates.

(b) Beginning with the 2026-2027 academic year, the total

amount of tuition charged by an institution of higher education to a

student for an academic year may not exceed the total amount of

tuition that the institution would have charged under this chapter

to a similarly situated student for the 2025-2026 academic year.

This subsection does not apply to tuition for an academic year after

the 2029-2030 academic year and expires September 1, 2030.

(c) The total amount of tuition charged by an institution of

higher education to a student for the 2030-2031 or a later academic

year may not exceed the total amount of tuition that the institution

would have charged under this chapter to a similarly situated

student of the institution for the preceding academic year, based

on the tuition rates in effect for that academic year, as that

amount is adjusted for inflation according to the inflation rate

determined under Subsection (d). The institution may not increase

the amount of tuition charged under this section to a student more

than once in any academic year.

(d) Not later than January 31 of each year beginning

January 31, 2030, or as soon thereafter as practicable, the

Legislative Budget Board shall publish and certify to the governing

board of each institution of higher education the inflation rate to

be used for purposes of this section for the next academic year.

The inflation rate is the percentage increase, if any, as expressed

in decimal form rounded to the nearest thousandth of one percent, in

the consumer price index, as defined by Section 341.201, Finance

Code, for the preceding calendar year as compared to the consumer

price index for the calendar year preceding that calendar year.

(e) For purposes of this section, students are similarly

situated if they share the same residency status, degree program,

course load, course level, tuition exemption status, and other

circumstances affecting the tuition charged to the student.

(f) This section does not ensure that the total amount of

tuition charged to an individual student does not increase based on

a change in the student's residency status, degree program, course

load, course level, tuition exemption status, or other circumstance

affecting the tuition charged to the student.

(g) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board may adopt

rules as necessary to administer this section.

SECTION 2. Sections 54.0513(a) and (b), Education Code, are

amended to read as follows:

(a) In addition to amounts that a governing board of an

institution of higher education is authorized to charge as tuition

under the other provisions of this chapter, the governing board[ ,

under the terms the governing board considers appropriate, ] may

charge any student an amount designated as tuition , not to exceed

the amount that enables the institution to comply with Section

54.0514, that the governing board considers necessary for the

effective operation of the institution.

(b) Subject to the limit provided by Subsection (a) on the

amount designated as tuition charged under this section, a [ A ]

governing board may set a different tuition rate under this section

for each program and course level offered by each institution of

higher education[ . A governing board may set a different tuition

rate ] as the governing board considers appropriate to increase

graduation rates, encourage efficient use of facilities, or enhance

employee performance.

SECTION 3. Sections 54.0515(e) and (f), Education Code, are

amended to read as follows:

(e) It is the legislature's intent that each institution of

higher education[ , as a condition to tuition deregulation under

Section 54.0513, ] reasonably implement the following:

(1) each institution shall make satisfactory progress

towards the goals provided in its master plan for higher education

and in "Closing the Gaps," the state's master plan for higher

education , or a successor state master plan ; and

(2) each institution shall meet acceptable

performance criteria, including measures such as graduation rates,

retention rates, enrollment growth, educational quality, efforts

to enhance minority participation, opportunities for financial

aid, and affordability.

(f) The committee shall:

(1) meet at the call of either chair;

(2) monitor and regularly report to the legislature on

each institution of higher education's compliance with the

requirements of Subsection (e); and

(3) receive and review information concerning the

affordability and accessibility of higher education[ , including

the impact of tuition deregulation ].

SECTION 4. This Act applies beginning with tuition charged

by public institutions of higher education for the 2026 fall

semester. Tuition charged by an institution of higher education in

an academic period before that semester is governed by the law in

effect before the effective date of this Act, and the former law is

continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 5. This Act takes effect January 1, 2026.