HB 5333

relating to the establishment of the STEM Excellence Graduate
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding
Subchapter T-4 to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER T-4.  STEM EXCELLENCE GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Sec. 61.    .  PURPOSE.  The purpose of this subchapter is to
identify and retain high-achieving students in research doctoral
degree programs in science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics (STEM-fields) to further Texas' economic success.  This
program will allow Texas to bolster its research institutions by
continuing to attract the best and brightest students, researchers,
and faculty to Texas' record number of tier one and tier two
research institutions.  Attracting and retaining high-achieving
doctoral students will allow these to unlock their potential and
support state goals for building a talent-strong Texas.
Sec. 61.    .  DEFINITIONS.  In this subchapter:
(1)  "STEM Excellence Graduate Fellowship" means a
scholarship awarded to a graduate student enrolled in a research
doctoral program in science, technology, engineering, or
(2)  "Program" means the STEM Excellence Graduate
Fellowship Program established as a competitive grant award under
Sec. 61.    .  ESTABLISHMENT; ADMINISTRATION.  (a)  The STEM
Excellence Graduate Fellowship is established as a competitive
grant program to serve as a merit-based scholarship for
high-achieving STEM-field research doctoral students.
(b)  Using money appropriated or otherwise available for the
purpose, the Coordinating Board shall award funding to institutions
of higher education to be used as fellowships to eligible students
(c)  The Coordinating Board shall administer the program as a
competitive grant award program.  The board may contract with one or
more institutions of higher education to assist in administering
the program, including receiving and reviewing applications,
recommending the distribution of funds to institutions of higher
education, and developing criteria for the selection of students
(d)  The board may establish one or more advisory committees
for the purpose of recommending rules for the administration of the
Sec. 61.    .  INITIAL ELIGIBILITY.  (a)  To be initially
eligible for the award of a STEM Excellence Graduate Fellowship, a
(2)  Submit to an FBI background check and not be
ineligible for a federal security clearance based on the background
(3)  Be a high-achieving student as determined by the
eligible institution in which the student is enrolled, based on
criteria the institution would otherwise use to award merit-based
aid, including the student's grades; test scores; work, internship,
or other experience; other scholarships or awards the student
received; or the student's prior research or publication;
(4)  Be enrolled in a STEM-field research doctoral
degree program at a general academic teaching institution; and
(5)  Comply with any additional requirement adopted by
(b)  The board may give preference to students who qualify to
Sec. 61.    .  CONTINUING ELIGIBILITY.  After establishing
initial eligibility to participate in the program under Section
61.  , a student may continue participating in the program only if
(1)  Maintains all eligibility criteria under 61.  ;
(2)  Maintains a minimum overall grade point average
(3)  Complies with any additional requirement adopted
Sec. 61.    .  GRANTS, GIFTS, AND DONATIONS.  The board may
solicit, accept, and spend grants, gifts, and donations from any
public or private source for the purposes of the program.
Sec. 61.    .  RULES.  (a)  The board, in consultation with
general academic teaching institutions, shall adopt rules for the
administration of the program, including rules providing for the
amount and permissible uses of a scholarship awarded under the
program.  The rules must provide that:
(1)  A student meet the criteria established in section
(2)  A student may not receive a scholarship under the
program for more than five years.
(b)  Notwithstanding Section 61.033, the board is not
required to use negotiated rulemaking procedures under Chapter
2008, Government Code, for the adoption of rules under this
SECTION 2.  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
shall adopt rules to administer Subchapter T-4, Chapter 61,
Education Code, as added by this Act, as soon as practicable after
the effective date of this Act.
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.