Monitoring the SessionHB 619
Filed
The caption speaks of establishing a law school, but the text only says a board 'may' do it and then makes even that contingent on funding the bill does not provide. The realistic main case, a school actually opening, can escape if no money is appropriated.
The holeInitial review · graded Nov 9, 2026 · How we grade
relating to the establishment of a public law school in the Rio Grande Valley.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
A board may open a Valley law school, “subject to the availability of funding.” None provided.
The bill lets a Texas university system open and run a public law school in Cameron County or Hidalgo County, but it does not require any system to do it. It touches university system boards, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, which picks one system if more than one applies and prepares an accreditation feasibility study, and future law students in the Rio Grande Valley. Nothing gets built unless a board chooses to act and money turns up, because the school is expressly made subject to the availability of funding.
Labels: ZOMBIE BILL. Died 2 times: 88R HB 1077 (Died in committee) and 89R HB 2088 (Did not pass). Checked against 88R and 89R only.BACK FROM THE DEAD. Same text as a bill filed before that died: 88R HB 1077 (Died in committee) and 89R HB 2088 (Did not pass). Filed in 3 sessions, counting this one. Checked against 88R and 89R only.TRY NO. 3. Filed in 3 sessions: 88R, 89R and 90R. Checked against 88R and 89R only.
90R-HB619 · 2026-11-09
relating to the establishment of a public law school in the Rio Grande Valley.
A board may open a Valley law school, “subject to the availability of funding.” None provided.
The bill lets a Texas university system open and run a public law school in Cameron County or Hidalgo County, but it does not require any system to do it. It touches university system boards, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, which picks one system if more than one applies and prepares an accreditation feasibility study, and future law students in the Rio Grande Valley. Nothing gets built unless a board chooses to act and money turns up, because the school is expressly made subject to the availability of funding.
[x] THE HOLEanalysis confidence 50%
The caption speaks of establishing a law school, but the text only says a board 'may' do it and then makes even that contingent on funding the bill does not provide. The realistic main case, a school actually opening, can escape if no money is appropriated.
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
THE TEXT
…“as a professional school of the system, a school of law in Cameron”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill authorizes a new public professional school, a new state-funded institution with its own faculty and staff, inside a university system.
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CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Not tied to this bill.
The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.
Derived itemized flow · Oct 28, 2024 to Jun 26, 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.
$10,000.00
Also funds 17 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Oct 28, 2024 to Aug 26, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · on Nov 26, 2025. 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: 101026922.
$9,000.00
Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Dec 10, 2024 to Apr 8, 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: 100979779, 101026922, 101055340.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
$10,000.00
Also funds 17 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Oct 28, 2024 to Aug 26, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · on Nov 26, 2025. 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: 101026922.
$9,000.00
Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Dec 10, 2024 to Apr 8, 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: 100979779, 101026922, 101055340.
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
Analysis of text version I by a super-expensive superintelligence, Nov 9, 2026, against the published rubric.
Filed 3 times: 88R, 89R and now. Checked against 88R and 89R only.
by Rep. Martinez, same lead author · Died in committee · same text
Introduced textLast action, Mar 2, 2023: Referred to Higher Education
Relating to the establishment of a public law school in the Rio Grande Valley.
Caption, 88R bill history
by Rep. Martinez, same lead author · Did not pass · same text
Introduced textLast action, May 12, 2025: Received from the House
Relating to the establishment of a public law school in the Rio Grande Valley.
Caption, 89R bill history
Texas House · Filed Nov 9, 2026
11/09/2026 H Filed
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Nov 10, 2026 at 2:35 AM CST. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
Education--Higher--Institutions & Programs
Lawyers
The text as introduced · 428 words
90R5278 GW-D By: Martinez H.B. No. 619 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the establishment of a public law school in the Rio Grande Valley. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 61.0905 to read as follows: Sec. 61.0905. RIO GRANDE VALLEY SCHOOL OF LAW. (a) The governing board of a university system may establish and operate, as a professional school of the system, a school of law in Cameron County or Hidalgo County as the governing board considers appropriate. (b) In administering the law school, the governing board may prescribe courses leading to customary degrees offered at other leading American schools of law and may award those degrees. (c) The governing board may assign responsibility for the management of the law school to a general academic teaching institution in the university system. (d) The governing board may accept and administer gifts and grants from any public or private person or entity for the use and benefit of the law school. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, establishment of a law school under this section is subject to the availability of funding, either through appropriation or from another source. (e) The governing board of a university system that intends to establish a law school under this section shall notify the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. If the coordinating board receives notification under this subsection from more than one governing board, the coordinating board shall determine which of those governing boards may establish a law school under this section. The coordinating board must base the determination on the need for a law school in a geographic area, potential student demand, available system resources, the feasibility of the specific proposal of each system, and other criteria the coordinating board considers appropriate. (f) Before the governing board establishes a law school under this section, the governing board shall request the coordinating board to prepare a feasibility study to determine the actions the system must take to obtain accreditation of the law school. The coordinating board shall deliver a copy of the study to the governing board and to the chair of each legislative standing committee with jurisdiction over higher education. SECTION 2. 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, 2027.