SB 129

Menéndez Student Housing Bill Orders A Study Due In 2028

Filed

Verdict: Smells

SmellsInitial review

Sen. José MenéndezDSenate 26

Why it's charged

Study, task force, commission, report

THE TEXT

“Not later than May 1, 2028, the board”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The bill's only duty is a study and a report due in 2028, so any action on student housing waits for a later bill. The caption says plainly that this is a study.

Study, task force, commission, report

Initial review · graded Nov 9, 2026 · How we grade

Caption

relating to a study by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board regarding housing insecurity and instability experienced by students enrolled at public institutions of higher education.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Students facing homelessness get a report. Due May 1, 2028! Any action waits for a later bill.

The bill orders the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to study housing problems among students at public colleges and universities. It looks at rent costs near campus, on-campus housing for first-year students, emergency housing for students at risk of homelessness, and how housing trouble affects grades, health, money and graduation time. The board must send a report with findings and any recommendations to state leaders, lawmakers and colleges by May 1, 2028, and nothing else changes for students on the ground.

Receipt

The receipt

90R-SB129 · 2026-11-09

SOLD BY

Sen. José MenéndezDSenate 26

ITEM

relating to a study by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board regarding housing insecurity and instability experienced by students enrolled at public institutions of higher education.

WHAT IT DOES

Students facing homelessness get a report. Due May 1, 2028! Any action waits for a later bill.

CHARGES

[x] STUDY, TASK FORCE, COMMISSION, REPORTanalysis confidence 60%

THE TEXT

“Not later than May 1, 2028, the board”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The bill's only duty is a study and a report due in 2028, so any action on student housing waits for a later bill. The caption says plainly that this is a study.

TOTAL

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

HISTORY

Nov 9, 2026Received by the Secretary of the Senate
Nov 9, 2026Filed

FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

Smells

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

José Menéndez

Donors

Kickapoo Traditional Tribes of Texas$25K Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$20K Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee$10K

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 2, 2024 to Oct 5, 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.

Kickapoo Traditional Tribes of Texas$25,000.00

Kickapoo Traditional Tribes of Texas

$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 Jan 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Jan 22, 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: 101065471.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$20,000.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$20,000.00

Cash: $20,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $20,000.00

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.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 12, 2024 to Oct 5, 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: 101012370, 101032316, 101072614.

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee$10,000.00

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee

$10,000.00

Cash: $10,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $10,000.00

Also funds 140 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Dec 2, 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: 101032316.

Money

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

Kickapoo Traditional Tribes of Texas

$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 Jan 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Jan 22, 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: 101065471.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$20,000.00

Cash: $20,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $20,000.00

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.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 12, 2024 to Oct 5, 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: 101012370, 101032316, 101072614.

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee

$10,000.00

Cash: $10,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $10,000.00

Also funds 140 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Dec 2, 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: 101032316.

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 a super-expensive superintelligence, Nov 9, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas Senate · Filed Nov 9, 2026

11/09/2026 S Filed

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced

Data snapshot Nov 10, 2026 at 2:40 AM CST. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Subjects

Education--Higher--General

Education--Higher--Institutions & Programs

Housing--General

Interim Studies

HIGHER EDUCATION COORDINATING BOARD, TEXAS

Text

The text as introduced · 297 words

90R4156 CMO-D

By: Menéndez
S.B. No. 129

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a study by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating

Board regarding housing insecurity and instability experienced by

students enrolled at public institutions of higher education.

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

SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act:

(1) "Board" means the Texas Higher Education

Coordinating Board.

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

assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code.

SECTION 2. STUDY. (a) The board shall conduct a study

regarding housing insecurity and instability experienced by

students enrolled at institutions of higher education.

(b) In conducting the study, the board shall:

(1) examine the causes of housing insecurity and

instability among students enrolled at institutions of higher

education, including:

(A) housing displacement;

(B) the affordability of renting an apartment,

home, or duplex near campus;

(C) the availability of and demand for on-campus

housing for first-year students; and

(D) the availability of and demand for emergency

housing for students at risk of becoming homeless; and

(2) analyze the impact that housing insecurity and

instability have on student academic performance, student physical

and mental well-being, student retention rates, student finances,

and the average time students take to complete their degrees.

SECTION 3. REPORT. Not later than May 1, 2028, the board

shall submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker

of the house of representatives, each member of the legislature,

and each institution of higher education a written report that

includes:

(1) the findings of the study conducted under this

Act; and

(2) any recommendations for legislative or other

action to address student housing insecurity and instability.

SECTION 4. EXPIRATION. This Act expires January 1, 2029.

SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September

1, 2027.