Bill Text: TX HB1925 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to tuition and fee exemptions at public institutions of higher education for certain peace officers.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2025-01-16 - Filed [HB1925 Detail]

Download: Texas-2025-HB1925-Introduced.html
  89R3955 JTZ-D
 
  By: Dean H.B. No. 1925
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to tuition and fee exemptions at public institutions of
  higher education for certain peace officers.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 54.3531, Education Code, is amended by
  amending Subsections (a) and (e) and adding Subsection (a-1) to
  read as follows:
         (a)  The governing board of an institution of higher
  education shall exempt from the payment of tuition and laboratory
  fees charged by the institution for a [criminal justice or law
  enforcement] course or courses a [an undergraduate] student who:
               (1)  is employed as a peace officer by this state or by
  a political subdivision of this state;
               (2)  is enrolled in a [criminal justice or] law
  enforcement-related degree program at the institution;
               (3)  is making satisfactory academic progress toward
  the student's degree as determined by the institution; and
               (4)  applies for the exemption at least one week before
  the last date of the institution's regular registration period for
  the applicable semester or other term.
         (a-1)  The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, in
  consultation with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board,
  shall adopt rules specifying which degree programs are law
  enforcement-related for purposes of Subsection (a)(2).
         (e)  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall
  adopt[:
               [(1)] rules governing the granting or denial of an
  exemption under this section, including rules relating to the
  determination of a student's eligibility for an exemption[; and
               [(2) a uniform listing of degree programs covered by the
  exemption under this section].
         SECTION 2.  As soon as practicable after the effective date
  of this Act, the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement shall adopt the
  rules required by Section 54.3531(a-1), Education Code, as added by
  this Act.
         SECTION 3.  Section 54.3531, Education Code, as amended by
  this Act, applies beginning with tuition and other fees charged for
  the 2025 fall semester. Tuition and other fees charged for an
  academic period before that semester are governed by the law in
  effect immediately before the effective date of this Act, and the
  former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 4.  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.
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