The bill amends the Texas Education Code to clarify the criteria for determining resident status for tuition purposes at public institutions of higher education. It specifies that individuals who are not authorized to be present in the United States cannot be considered residents of Texas for these purposes. The bill removes previous criteria that allowed certain individuals, such as those who graduated from Texas high schools, to qualify for resident status, thereby tightening the requirements. Additionally, it mandates that institutions must notify law enforcement if they discover a student is not authorized to be in the U.S.

Furthermore, the bill outlines the responsibilities of institutions regarding tuition classification and the consequences of erroneous classifications. Institutions are required to charge nonresident tuition to individuals who have been incorrectly classified as residents and must seek the difference in tuition fees. The bill also allows for the establishment of lower nonresident tuition rates under specific conditions but excludes individuals not authorized to be in the U.S. from eligibility for these rates. The changes will take effect starting with the fall semester of 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 54.052, Education Code 54.053, Education Code 54.055, Education Code 54.056, Education Code 54.057, Education Code 54.0601 (Education Code 54)