The bill amends the Education Code regarding the determination of resident status for students at public institutions of higher education in Texas. It 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. The new language specifies that only individuals who establish and maintain a domicile in Texas for at least one year before the census date of the academic term will be considered residents. Additionally, it introduces a provision stating that individuals not authorized under federal law to be present in the United States cannot be classified as residents.

Furthermore, the bill updates Section 54.053, which outlines the information required to establish resident status. It eliminates the requirement for statements related to the residency of individuals who graduated from high school in Texas. The bill also allows public institutions to reclassify students from resident to nonresident status if they no longer meet the eligibility criteria, particularly if they are not authorized to be in the U.S. The act is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

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