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HB 3068

AN ACT relating to the consideration of an alternative assessment

House Bill
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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Not yet assigned

Fiscal Note

Not available

What This Bill Does

Modifies undergraduate admissions criteria for Texas public higher education institutions by allowing alternative standardized test assessment scores for student admission. Students can qualify for admission by meeting specific benchmarks on ACT, SAT, or Classic Learning Test assessments, even if they do not graduate in the top 10% of their high school class. The changes will take effect for the fall 2026 semester, providing more flexible pathways for students to access higher education based on standardized test performance.

Subject Areas

Bill Text

relating to the consideration of an alternative assessment
instrument score in undergraduate admissions at certain public
institutions of higher education.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Section 51.803(a), Education Code, is amended to
(a)  Subject to Subsection (a-1), each general academic
teaching institution shall admit an applicant for admission to the
institution as an undergraduate student if the applicant graduated
with a grade point average in the top 10 percent of the student's
high school graduating class in one of the two school years
preceding the academic year for which the applicant is applying for
(A)  graduated from a public or private high
school in this state accredited by a generally recognized
accrediting organization or from a high school operated by the
United States Department of Defense; or
(B)  completed a nontraditional secondary
education as defined by Section 51.9241;
(i)  at a public high school, the curriculum
requirements established under Section 28.025 for the
distinguished level of achievement under the foundation high school
(ii)  at a high school to which Section
28.025 does not apply, a curriculum that is equivalent in content
and rigor to the distinguished level of achievement under the
foundation high school program; or
(i)  satisfied ACT's College Readiness
Benchmarks on the ACT assessment applicable to the applicant; or
(a)  on the SAT assessment a score of
at least 1,500 out of 2,400 or the equivalent; or
(b)  on the Classic Learning Test
assessment a score of at least 71 out of 120 or the equivalent; and
(3)  if the applicant graduated from a high school
operated by the United States Department of Defense, the applicant
is a Texas resident under Section 54.052 or is entitled to pay
tuition fees at the rate provided for Texas residents under Section
54.241(d) for the term or semester to which admitted.
SECTION 2.  Section 51.805(a), Education Code, is amended to
(a)  A graduating student who does not qualify for admission
under Section 51.803 or 51.804 may apply to any general academic
teaching institution if the student:
(A)  at a public high school, the curriculum
requirements established under Section 28.025 for the foundation
(B)  at a high school to which Section 28.025 does
not apply, a curriculum that is equivalent in content and rigor to
the foundation high school program; or
(A)  satisfied ACT's College Readiness Benchmarks
on the ACT assessment applicable to the applicant; or
(i)  on the SAT assessment a score of at
least 1,500 out of 2,400 or the equivalent; or
(ii)  on the Classic Learning Test
assessment a score of at least 71 out of 120 or the equivalent.
SECTION 3.  The changes in law made by this Act apply
beginning with admissions to a general academic teaching
institution for the 2026 fall semester.  Admissions to a general
academic teaching institution for a term or semester before the
2026 fall 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 History

filed

Bill filed: AN ACT relating to the consideration of an alternative assessment