Bill Text: TX HB2185 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to a tuition exemption for the children of certain law enforcement officers.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2025-01-28 - Filed [HB2185 Detail]

Download: Texas-2025-HB2185-Introduced.html

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By: Louderback H.B. No. 2185

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a tuition exemption for the children of certain law
enforcement officers.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 54, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 54.3511 to read as follows:
Sec. 54.3511. CHILDREN OF CERTAIN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.
(a) In this section:
(1) "Eligible law enforcement officer" means a peace
officer defined by Article Art. 2A.001, Code of Criminal Procedure,
who has at least 15 years of continuous service as a peace officer
in a public retirement system.
(2) "Public retirement system" has the meaning
assigned by Section 801.001, Government Code.
(3) "Child" is a person whose parent is an eligible law
enforcement officer, including a stepchild or adopted child.
(b) The governing board of each institution of higher
education shall exempt from the payment of all tuition, fees, and
charges any child whose parent is an eligible law enforcement
officer. The exemption does not apply to general deposits or to
fees or charges for lodging, board, or clothing.
(c) A child is not entitled to the exemption if the child:
(1) does not apply initially for the exemption before
the date the child:
(A) becomes 21 years of age, if the person is not
covered by Paragraph (B); or
(B) becomes 22 years of age, if the person is
eligible to participate in a school district's special education
program under Section 29.003;
(2) does not meet all entrance requirements of the
institution; or
(3) does not maintain a scholastic average sufficient
to remain in good standing.
(d) Subject to Subsection (e), a child may receive an
exemption only for the first 120 undergraduate semester credit
hours for which the person registers.
(e) A child is not entitled to an exemption for any term or
semester the child begins after the date the child becomes 26 years
of age.
(f) A child entitled to an exemption under the provisions of
this section shall, when transferring from a public junior college
to a public senior college or university, meet the standard
entrance requirements required by the senior college or university
of an applicant for admission not covered by the provisions of this
section.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.