H.B. No. 2851 AN ACT relating to including nursing school applications in a consolidated application service. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter S, Chapter 51, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 51.765 to read as follows: Sec. 51.765. NURSING SCHOOL APPLICATION CONSOLIDATION. (a) A service or organization that provides consolidated application services for applications to medical schools or dental schools, including the Texas Health Education Service at The University of Texas System Administration, must include applications for nursing schools in this state. (b) The Texas Health Education Service at The University of Texas System Administration shall establish an advisory board to develop: (1) recommendations for including applications for nursing schools in this state in the consolidated application services for applications to medical schools or dental schools as required under Subsection (a); and (2) an implementation plan for the recommendations developed under Subdivision (1). (c) The advisory board shall consist of representatives of professional nursing programs in this state and representatives with expertise in professional nursing program applications appointed by the Texas Health Education Service at The University of Texas System Administration. (d) The Texas Health Education Service at The University of Texas System Administration shall publish the implementation plan developed by the advisory board under this section on an Internet website operated by the Texas Health Education Service not later than January 1, 2026. (e) The advisory board is abolished and this subsection and Subsections (b), (c), and (d) expire September 1, 2027. SECTION 2. Section 51.765(a), Education Code, as added by this Act, applies beginning with applications for admission to a nursing school for the 2027 fall semester. SECTION 3. The Texas Health Education Service at The University of Texas System Administration shall appoint the members of the advisory board under Section 51.765(c), Education Code, as added by this Act, not later than November 1, 2025. SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. ______________________________ ______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House I certify that H.B. No. 2851 was passed by the House on April 30, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 114, Nays 22, 1 present, not voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B. No. 2851 on May 28, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 88, Nays 49, 2 present, not voting. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House I certify that H.B. No. 2851 was passed by the Senate, with amendments, on May 26, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. ______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: __________________ Date __________________ Governor