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HB 3452

AN ACT relating to inquiries into the criminal and disciplinary history of

House Bill Jones, Venton
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

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What This Bill Does

Limits the criminal and disciplinary history information that can be requested on college application forms for undergraduate admissions. Public institutions of higher education are now restricted from asking about most criminal convictions older than 10 years, and cannot inquire about most prior disciplinary actions, with specific exceptions for serious offenses like murder, sexual offenses, stalking, and certain violent crimes. The new rules will apply to college applications starting in the 2026 spring semester, aiming to provide more opportunities for students with past criminal or disciplinary records to access higher education.

Subject Areas

Bill Text

relating to inquiries into the criminal and disciplinary history of
an applicant for undergraduate admission to a public institution of
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Section 51.762, Education Code, is amended by
amending Subsections (c) and (h) and adding Subsection (c-1) to
(c)  Subject to Subsection (c-1) and in [In] addition to
information required to determine the residency status of the
applicant and information relating to the use of the form at each
institution, the board shall include on each application form
adopted under this section information that the board considers
(c-1)  The board may not include on an application form
adopted under this section information regarding an applicant's
criminal history or disciplinary history at a primary or secondary
school or postsecondary educational institution, other than
information regarding the applicant's:
(A)  under Section 42.072 (Stalking), Penal Code;
(B)  for which the applicant is required to
register as a sex offender under Chapter 62, Code of Criminal
(C)  for which an affirmative finding of family
violence was made under Article 42.013, Code of Criminal Procedure;
(2)  conviction occurring not more than 10 years before
the date on which the application is submitted of an offense not
described by Subdivision (1) under:
(A)  Section 19.02 (Murder), 19.03 (Capital
Murder), or 19.04 (Manslaughter), Penal Code;
(B)  Section 20.03 (Kidnapping) or 20.04
(Aggravated Kidnapping), Penal Code; or
(C)  Section 22.01 (Assault) or 22.02 (Aggravated
(3)  pending criminal charges; or
(4)  disciplinary history at a primary or secondary
school or postsecondary educational institution for stalking,
sexual assault, sexual harassment, or dating violence, as those
terms are defined by Section 51.281.
(h)  An applicant may file, and each institution of higher
education shall accept, an application for admission as an entering
freshman or undergraduate transfer student that uses the
appropriate form adopted under this section.  The form used to apply
to a general academic teaching institution may be filed in either
electronic or printed format.  An institution of higher education
may require [is not prohibited from requiring] an applicant to
submit additional information, other than information prohibited
from being included on an application form under Subsection (c-1),
within a reasonable time after the institution has received an
application using a form adopted under this section.
SECTION 2.  Section 51.763(c), Education Code, is amended to
(c)  A general academic teaching institution may require [is
not prohibited from requiring] an applicant to submit additional
information, other than information prohibited from being included
on an application form under Section 51.762(c-1), within a
reasonable time after the institution has received an application
SECTION 3.  Sections 51.762 and 51.763, Education Code, as
amended by this Act, apply beginning with applications for
undergraduate admission to a public institution of higher education
or a general academic teaching institution for the 2026 spring
SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

Bill History

filed

Bill filed: AN ACT relating to inquiries into the criminal and disciplinary history of