House Bill No. 232 amends the Education Code regarding the determination of resident status for students at public institutions of higher education in Texas. The bill modifies Section 54.052 by removing the criteria that allowed individuals who graduated from a Texas high school or received an equivalent diploma to be classified as residents. Instead, it focuses on two main categories: individuals who establish and maintain a domicile in Texas for at least one year before the census date of the academic term, and dependents whose parents meet the same domicile requirements. Additionally, a new provision is added stating that individuals not authorized under federal law to be present in the U.S. cannot be considered residents of Texas for educational purposes.

Furthermore, Section 54.053 is updated to streamline the information required to establish resident status, eliminating the need for statements related to the previous criteria of high school graduation. The bill also allows public institutions to reclassify students from resident to nonresident status if they no longer meet the eligibility requirements, particularly in cases where students are not authorized to be in the U.S. This legislation is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 54.052, Education Code 54.053 (Education Code 54)