By: Paul (Senate Sponsor - Middleton) H.B. No. 3041          (In the Senate - Received from the House May 5, 2025;   May 5, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Education   K-16; May 16, 2025, reported favorably by the following vote:  Yeas   11, Nays 0; May 16, 2025, sent to printer.)Click here to see the committee vote     A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT     relating to measures to support the enrollment of students with a   nontraditional secondary education at public institutions of   higher education, including eligibility for certain student   financial assistance programs.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Sections 51.803(a-1), (a-2), and (m), Education   Code, are amended to read as follows:          (a-1)  Beginning with admissions for the 2011-2012 academic   year, The University of Texas at Austin is not required to offer   admission to applicants who qualify for automatic admission under   Subsection (a) in excess of the number required to fill 75 percent   of the university's enrollment capacity designated for first-time   resident undergraduate students in an academic year.  If the number   of applicants who qualify for automatic admission to The University   of Texas at Austin under Subsection (a) for an academic year exceeds   75 percent of the university's enrollment capacity designated for   first-time resident undergraduate students for that academic year,   the university may elect to offer admission to those applicants as   provided by this subsection and not as otherwise required by   Subsection (a).  If the university elects to offer admission under   this subsection, except as otherwise provided by this subsection   for those students who completed a nontraditional secondary   education, the university shall offer admission to those applicants   by percentile rank according to high school graduating class   standing based on grade point average, beginning with the top   percentile rank, until the applicants qualified under Subsection   (a), including those applicants who completed a nontraditional   secondary education as determined below, have been offered   admission in the number estimated in good faith by the university as   sufficient to fill 75 percent of the university's enrollment   capacity designated for first-time resident undergraduate   students, except that the university must offer admission to all   applicants with the same percentile rank.  Notwithstanding Section   51.9241, for the admission under this subsection of those   applicants qualified for automatic admission under Subsection (a)   who completed a nontraditional secondary education, instead of   offering admission to those applicants by high school graduating   class percentile rank, the university shall offer admission to   those applicants whose score on a standardized test on a college   entrance examination meets or exceeds a benchmark test score set by   the university for purposes of this subsection. The university   shall set the benchmark test score to be used under this subsection   for an academic year based on the standardized test scores on a   college entrance examination of applicants to the university who   completed a nontraditional secondary education and who were offered   admission under this subsection in the academic year preceding the   academic year by two years and in a manner designed to ensure that   the percent of applicants who completed a nontraditional secondary   education and who are offered admission under this subsection for   an academic year will be the same as the percent of applicants who   completed a traditional secondary education and who are offered   admission under this subsection for that year. After the   applicants qualified for automatic admission under Subsection (a),   including those who completed a nontraditional secondary   education, have been offered admission under this subsection in the   number estimated in good faith as sufficient to fill 75 percent of   the designated enrollment capacity described by this subsection,   the university shall consider any remaining applicants qualified   for automatic admission under Subsection (a) in the same manner as   other applicants for admission as first-time undergraduate   students in accordance with Section 51.805. In this subsection,   "nontraditional secondary education" has the meaning assigned by   Section 51.9241.          (a-2)  If the number of applicants who apply to a general   academic teaching institution during the current academic year for   admission in the next academic year and who qualify for automatic   admission to a general academic teaching institution under   Subsection (a) exceeds 75 percent of the institution's enrollment   capacity designated for first-time resident undergraduate students   for that next academic year and the institution plans to offer   admission under Subsection (a-1) during the next school year, the   institution shall, in the manner prescribed by the Texas Education   Agency and not later than September 15, provide to each school   district, for dissemination of the information to high school   junior-level students and their parents, notice of:                (1)  which percentile ranks of high school senior-level   students who qualify for automatic admission under Subsection (a)   are anticipated by the institution to be offered admission under   Subsection (a-1) during the next school year; and                (2)  what benchmark test score will be used by the   institution to offer admission under Subsection (a-1) during the   next school year to students who qualify for automatic admission   under Subsection (a) and who complete a nontraditional secondary   education.          (m)  In determining the eligibility for admission under   Subsection (a) [this section] of an applicant with a nontraditional   secondary education, as defined by Section 51.9241, that does not   include a high school graduating class ranking, a general academic   teaching institution shall calculate the applicant's class rank in   the manner provided by Section 51.9241(d).          SECTION 2.  Section 51.9241, Education Code, is amended by   amending Subsection (d) and adding Subsection (e) to read as   follows:          (d)  If an institution of higher education in its   undergraduate admission review process sorts applicants by high   school graduating class rank, the institution shall assign a class   rank to [place] any applicant who presents evidence that the   applicant has successfully completed a nontraditional secondary   education that does not include a high school graduating class   ranking by:                (1)  calculating for each class rank of other   applicants to the institution the median score on each college   entrance examination the institution considers in admissions; and                (2)  assigning to the applicant the highest class rank   for which the applicant's score on a college entrance examination   the institution considers in admissions is at least equal to the   median score for that class rank calculated under Subdivision (1)   [at the average high school graduating class rank of undergraduate   applicants to the institution who have equivalent standardized   testing scores as the applicant].          (e)  An institution of higher education to which Subsection   (d) applies shall post on the institution's Internet website the   median score on each college entrance examination the institution   considers in admissions calculated for each class rank under   Subsection (d)(1) for the preceding admissions cycle.          SECTION 3.  Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 51.9675 to read as follows:          Sec. 51.9675.  EQUAL ACCESS TO DUAL CREDIT COURSES. (a)  In   this section, "institution of higher education" has the meaning   assigned by Section 61.003.          (b)  In admitting or enrolling high school students in a dual   credit course, an institution of higher education must apply the   same criteria and conditions to each student wishing to enroll in   the course without regard to whether the student attends a public   school or a private or parochial school, including a home school.   For purposes of this section, a student who attends a school that is   not formally organized as a high school and is at least 16 years of   age is considered to be attending a high school.          SECTION 4.  Section 56.013, Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 56.013.  INFORMATION REGARDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE   FUNDED FROM DESIGNATED TUITION. The Texas Higher Education   Coordinating Board shall post on the coordinating board's Internet   website and disseminate to each public or accredited private high   school in this state information regarding the financial assistance   available under this subchapter and shall include information   designed to educate high school students and the parents of those   students on available opportunities and required preparation with   respect to institutions of higher education. The coordinating   board shall recommend a method of delivery of the information to   parents and students under this section.          SECTION 5.  Section 56.304(a), Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (a)  To be eligible initially for a TEXAS grant, a person who   graduated from high school before May 1, 2013, must:                (1)  be a resident of this state as determined by   coordinating board rules;                (2)  meet either of the following academic   requirements:                      (A)  be a graduate of a public or accredited   private high school, or a graduate who presents evidence of   successful completion of a nontraditional secondary education, as   defined by Section 51.9241, in this state who graduated not earlier   than the 1998-1999 school year and who completed the recommended or   advanced high school curriculum established under Section 28.002 or   28.025 or its equivalent; or                      (B)  have received an associate degree from a   public or private institution of higher education not earlier than   May 1, 2001;                (3)  meet financial need requirements as defined by the   coordinating board;                (4)  be enrolled in a baccalaureate degree program at   an eligible institution;                (5)  be enrolled as:                      (A)  an entering undergraduate student for at   least three-fourths of a full course load for an entering   undergraduate student, as determined by the coordinating board, not   later than the 16th month after the date of the person's graduation   from high school; or                      (B)  an entering student for at least   three-fourths of a full course load for an undergraduate student as   determined by the coordinating board, not later than the 12th month   after the month the person receives an associate degree from a   public or private institution of higher education;                (6)  have applied for any available financial aid or   assistance; and                (7)  comply with any additional nonacademic   requirement adopted by the coordinating board under this   subchapter.          SECTION 6.  Section 56.3041(a), Education Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (a)  To be eligible initially for a TEXAS grant, a person   graduating from high school on or after May 1, 2013, and enrolling   in an eligible institution must:                (1)  be a resident of this state as determined by   coordinating board rules;                (2)  meet the academic requirements prescribed by   Paragraph (A), (B), (C), or (D) as follows:                      (A)  be a graduate of a public or accredited   private high school, or a graduate who presents evidence of   successful completion of a nontraditional secondary education, as   defined by Section 51.9241, in this state who completed the   foundation high school program established under Section 28.025 or   its equivalent and have accomplished any two or more of the   following:                            (i)  successful completion of the course   requirements of the international baccalaureate diploma program or   earning of the equivalent of at least 12 semester credit hours of   college credit in high school through courses described in Sections   28.009(a)(1), (2), and (3);                            (ii)  satisfaction of the Texas Success   Initiative (TSI) college readiness benchmarks prescribed by the   coordinating board under Section 51.334 on any assessment   instrument designated by the coordinating board under that section   or qualification for an exemption as described by Section   51.338(b), (c), or (d);                            (iii)  graduation in the top one-third of   the person's high school graduating class or graduation from high   school with a grade point average of at least 3.0 on a four-point   scale or the equivalent; or                            (iv)  completion for high school credit of   at least one advanced mathematics course following the successful   completion of an Algebra II course or at least one advanced career   and technical or technology applications course;                      (B)  have received an associate degree from a   public or private institution of higher education;                      (C)  be an undergraduate student who has:                            (i)  previously attended another   institution of higher education;                            (ii)  received an initial Texas Educational   Opportunity Grant under Subchapter P for the 2014 fall semester or a   subsequent academic term;                            (iii)  completed at least 24 semester credit   hours at any institution or institutions of higher education; and                            (iv)  earned an overall grade point average   of at least 2.5 on a four-point scale or the equivalent on all   course work previously attempted; or                      (D)  if sufficient money is available, meet the   eligibility criteria described by Section 56.304(a)(2)(A);                (3)  meet financial need requirements established by   the coordinating board;                (4)  be enrolled in an undergraduate degree or   certificate program at an eligible institution;                (5)  except as provided under rules adopted under   Section 56.304(h), be enrolled as:                      (A)  an entering undergraduate student for at   least three-fourths of a full course load, as determined by the   coordinating board, not later than the 16th month after the   calendar month in which the person graduated from high school;                      (B)  an entering undergraduate student who   entered military service not later than the first anniversary of   the date the person graduated from high school and who enrolled for   at least three-fourths of a full course load, as determined by the   coordinating board, at the eligible institution not later than 12   months after being honorably discharged from military service;                      (C)  a continuing undergraduate student for at   least three-fourths of a full course load, as determined by the   coordinating board, not later than the 12th month after the   calendar month in which the person received an associate degree   from a public or private institution of higher education; or                      (D)  an undergraduate student described by   Subdivision (2)(C) who has never previously received a TEXAS grant;                (6)  have applied for any available financial aid or   assistance; and                (7)  comply with any additional nonacademic   requirements adopted by the coordinating board under this   subchapter.          SECTION 7.  Sections 56.308(a) and (d), Education Code, are   amended to read as follows:          (a)  The coordinating board shall post on the coordinating   board's Internet website and distribute to each eligible   institution and to each school district a copy of the rules adopted   under this subchapter.          (d)  In addition to the eligibility requirements of Section   56.304, a person who graduated from an accredited private high   school or who presents evidence of successful completion of a   nontraditional secondary education, as defined by Section 51.9241,   is eligible to receive a grant under this subchapter only if the   student's official transcript or diploma includes the information   required as provided by Subsections (b)(2)(A) and (c).          SECTION 8.  Section 56.484, Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 56.484.  INITIAL ELIGIBILITY FOR SCHOLARSHIP. (a) To   be eligible for a scholarship under this subchapter, a student   must:                (1)  have graduated from a public or accredited private   high school, or be a graduate who presents evidence of successful   completion of a nontraditional secondary education, as defined by   Section 51.9241, in this state while ranked in the top 10 percent or   as the valedictorian of the student's graduating class, subject to   Section 56.487(b);                (2)  have completed the recommended or advanced high   school curriculum established under Section 28.025 or its   equivalent;                (3)  have applied for admission as a first-time   freshman student for the 2010-2011 academic year or a subsequent   academic year to an institution of higher education that has   elected to offer admissions for that academic year to applicants as   provided by Section 51.803(a-1);                (4)  enroll as a first-time freshman student in an   institution of higher education not later than the 16th month after   the date of the student's high school graduation;                (5)  have been awarded a TEXAS grant under Subchapter M   for the same semester or other academic term for which the   scholarship will be awarded;                (6)  be a Texas resident under Section 54.052; and                (7)  comply with any other eligibility requirements   established by coordinating board rule.          (b)  For purposes of Subsection (a)(1), the class rank of a   student who presents evidence of successful completion of a   nontraditional secondary education shall be calculated in the   manner provided by Section 51.9241(d)(1).          SECTION 9.  The changes in law made by this Act to Sections   51.803 and 51.9241, Education Code, apply beginning with admissions   to a public institution of higher education for the 2026 fall   semester. Admissions to a public institution of higher education   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 10.  Section 51.9675, Education Code, as added by   this Act, applies beginning with admissions or enrollment in a dual   credit course at a public institution of higher education for the   2025 fall semester. Admissions or enrollment in a dual credit   course at a public institution of higher education for a term or   semester before the 2025 fall semester is 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 11.  The changes in law made by this Act to Chapter   56, Education Code, apply beginning with student financial   assistance awarded by a public institution of higher education for   the 2026 fall semester. Student financial assistance awarded by a   public institution of higher education for a term or semester   before the 2026 fall semester is 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 12.  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.     * * * * *