HB 3296

relating to the establishment of a higher education consortium for
civic education and a grant program for that consortium.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Subchapter Q, Chapter 61, Education Code, is
SUBCHAPTER Q.  CIVIC EDUCATION CONSORTIUM AND GRANT [TEXAS
PARTNERSHIP AND SCHOLARSHIP] PROGRAM
Sec. 61.801.  DEFINITION.  In this subchapter, "consortium"
means the consortium of colleges and universities established under
Sec. 61.802.  CONSORTIUM.  (a)  A consortium of colleges and
universities is established to provide civic education to residents
of this state at no cost to the student.
(b)  To be eligible to participate in the consortium, a
(2)  be designated as a historically black college or
(3)  be accredited by a recognized accrediting agency;
(4)  for an institution of higher education, comply
with all applicable state and federal laws.
Sec. 61.803.  CIVIC EDUCATION GRANT PROGRAM.  (a)  From money
appropriated or otherwise available for the purpose, the board
shall establish a grant program under which the board awards grants
to colleges and universities in the consortium to provide civic
education to residents of this state at no cost to the student.  A
grant awarded under the grant program may be for a one-year term or
for a term of more than one year.
(b)  A college or university in the consortium that receives
a grant under the grant program shall partner with a municipality,
county, community organization, public library, institution of
higher education, or private or independent institution of higher
education to provide the civic education described by Subsection
(a) through existing community programs and initiatives.
(c)  Money received under the grant program may be used only
for the following purposes as related to civic education described
(1)  for colleges and universities in the consortium:
(A)  faculty and staff recruitment, development,
(B)  upgrades and support for research,
curriculum development and instruction, and technological
(C)  infrastructure improvements;
(2)  for community partners described by Subsection
(A)  staffing, including training to build civic
(B)  infrastructure and program implementation;
(C)  the creation of digital resources and virtual
programming to expand accessibility; and
(D)  support for hosting civic education events,
including voter registration drives and workshops;
(3)  support services for recruitment, development,
(4)  a broad framework of civic education models and
practices to be used as the basis for curriculum and instruction
(d)  Civic education offered under the grant program must be
made available across the state, with resources directed to both
(e)  The board shall require a college or university in the
consortium that receives a grant under the grant program to
regularly report the college's or university's progress in
providing civic education described by Subsection (a).
Sec. 61.804.  OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.  (a)  The board shall
establish an oversight committee to monitor the consortium and
implementation of the grant program under Section 61.803.
(b)  The oversight committee must consist of representatives
(1)  colleges and universities located in this state
and designated as historically black colleges and universities;
(c)  The oversight committee shall evaluate the civic
education provided by the consortium under this subchapter at least
once every three years. The committee must consider:
(1)  student competencies and skills growth;
(2)  enrollment and completion rates; and
(3)  community and economic impacts.
(d)  The consortium shall contract with an independent
third-party evaluator to evaluate the civic education provided by
the consortium under this subchapter on the schedule described by
Subsection (c) and report the evaluator's findings to the oversight
Sec. 61.805.  CONSORTIUM RECOMMENDATIONS.  (a)  The
consortium may make recommendations to the oversight committee for
the provision of civic education under the grant program
established under Section 61.803.  The recommendations must address
community needs, including state and local workforce development.
(b)  The oversight committee must approve a recommendation
of the consortium before grant funding under Section 61.803 may be
spent in accordance with that recommendation.
Sec. 61.806.  GIFTS, GRANTS, OR DONATIONS.  The board shall
encourage the consortium to seek gifts, grants, or donations,
including matching funds from federal programs, from any public or
private source to support civic education under this subchapter.
Sec. 61.807.  RULES.  The board may adopt rules as necessary
SECTION 2.  This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026
SECTION 3.  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.