89R8121 RDR-F     By: Blanco S.B. No. 915       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to a limitation on the amount of tuition charged by public   institutions of higher education.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 54, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 54.0514 to read as follows:          Sec. 54.0514.  LIMITATION ON TOTAL AMOUNT OF TUITION. (a)   In this section, "tuition" includes:                (1)  tuition for which the rates are prescribed by this   chapter; and                (2)  tuition charged by an institution of higher   education under Section 54.0513 or another law authorizing an   institution to establish tuition rates.          (b)  Beginning with the 2026-2027 academic year, the total   amount of tuition charged by an institution of higher education to a   student for an academic year may not exceed the total amount of   tuition that the institution would have charged under this chapter   to a similarly situated student for the 2025-2026 academic year.     This subsection does not apply to tuition for an academic year after   the 2029-2030 academic year and expires September 1, 2030.          (c)  The total amount of tuition charged by an institution of   higher education to a student for the 2030-2031 or a later academic   year may not exceed the total amount of tuition that the institution   would have charged under this chapter to a similarly situated   student of the institution for the preceding academic year, based   on the tuition rates in effect for that academic year, as that   amount is adjusted for inflation according to the inflation rate   determined under Subsection (d). The institution may not increase   the amount of tuition charged under this section to a student more   than once in any academic year.          (d)  Not later than January 31 of each year beginning   January 31, 2030, or as soon thereafter as practicable, the   Legislative Budget Board shall publish and certify to the governing   board of each institution of higher education the inflation rate to   be used for purposes of this section for the next academic year.   The inflation rate is the percentage increase, if any, as expressed   in decimal form rounded to the nearest thousandth of one percent, in   the consumer price index, as defined by Section 341.201, Finance   Code, for the preceding calendar year as compared to the consumer   price index for the calendar year preceding that calendar year.          (e)  For purposes of this section, students are similarly   situated if they share the same residency status, degree program,   course load, course level, tuition exemption status, and other   circumstances affecting the tuition charged to the student.          (f)  This section does not ensure that the total amount of   tuition charged to an individual student does not increase based on   a change in the student's residency status, degree program, course   load, course level, tuition exemption status, or other circumstance   affecting the tuition charged to the student.          (g)  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board may adopt   rules as necessary to administer this section.          SECTION 2.  Sections 54.0513(a) and (b), Education Code, are   amended to read as follows:          (a)  In addition to amounts that a governing board of an   institution of higher education is authorized to charge as tuition   under the other provisions of this chapter, the governing board[,   under the terms the governing board considers appropriate,] may   charge any student an amount designated as tuition, not to exceed   the amount that enables the institution to comply with Section   54.0514, that the governing board considers necessary for the   effective operation of the institution.          (b)  Subject to the limit provided by Subsection (a) on the   amount designated as tuition charged under this section, a [A]   governing board may set a different tuition rate under this section   for each program and course level offered by each institution of   higher education[. A governing board may set a different tuition   rate] as the governing board considers appropriate to increase   graduation rates, encourage efficient use of facilities, or enhance   employee performance.          SECTION 3.  Sections 54.0515(e) and (f), Education Code, are   amended to read as follows:          (e)  It is the legislature's intent that each institution of   higher education[, as a condition to tuition deregulation under   Section 54.0513,] reasonably implement the following:                (1)  each institution shall make satisfactory progress   towards the goals provided in its master plan for higher education   and in "Closing the Gaps," the state's master plan for higher   education, or a successor state master plan; and                (2)  each institution shall meet acceptable   performance criteria, including measures such as graduation rates,   retention rates, enrollment growth, educational quality, efforts   to enhance minority participation, opportunities for financial   aid, and affordability.          (f)  The committee shall:                (1)  meet at the call of either chair;                (2)  monitor and regularly report to the legislature on   each institution of higher education's compliance with the   requirements of Subsection (e); and                (3)  receive and review information concerning the   affordability and accessibility of higher education[, including   the impact of tuition deregulation].          SECTION 4.  This Act applies beginning with tuition charged   by public institutions of higher education for the 2026 fall   semester. Tuition charged by an institution of higher education in   an academic period before that semester is governed by the law in   effect before the effective date of this Act, and the former law is   continued in effect for that purpose.          SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect January 1, 2026.