HB 1925

AN ACT relating to tuition and fee exemptions at public institutions of

House Bill Dean
Filed

Filed

Bill introduced by legislator

Committee

Hearing

Passed Cmte

Calendar

Passed

Sent

Enrolled

Governor

Signed

89th Regular Session

Jan 14, 2025 - Jun 2, 2025 • Session ended

Awaiting Committee Assignment

Bill filed, pending referral to House committee

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Fiscal Note

Not available

What This Bill Does

Expands tuition and fee exemptions for peace officers pursuing law enforcement-related degree programs at public higher education institutions in Texas. Specifically, employed peace officers at the state or local level can receive a full exemption from tuition and laboratory fees if they are enrolled in an approved law enforcement degree program, maintain satisfactory academic progress, and apply at least one week before the registration deadline. The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement will determine which specific degree programs qualify as law enforcement-related, with the exemption taking effect for the fall 2025 semester.

Subject Areas

Bill Text

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
(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
[(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
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
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.

Bill Sponsors

Legislators who authored or co-sponsored this bill.

Bill History

filed

Bill filed: AN ACT relating to tuition and fee exemptions at public institutions of