The bill amends the Education Code regarding the determination of resident status for students at public institutions of higher education in Texas. It specifies that individuals can be considered residents if they establish and maintain a domicile in the state for at least one year before the census date of the academic term in which they are enrolled. The bill removes the previous criteria that included students who graduated from a Texas high school or received an equivalent diploma, thereby streamlining the requirements for establishing residency. Additionally, it introduces a new provision stating that individuals not authorized under federal law to be present in the United States cannot be considered residents for the purposes of this title.

Furthermore, the bill outlines the information required to establish resident status, which includes statements regarding the duration of residence and the purpose of establishing a domicile. It also allows public institutions to reclassify students from resident to nonresident status under certain conditions, particularly if they do not meet the new residency criteria or are not authorized to be in the U.S. This reclassification can occur before the start of an academic term. The bill is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

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