The bill, S.B. No. 364, amends Section 54.366(a) of the Education Code to expand eligibility for tuition and fee exemptions at public institutions of higher education for students who were under the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services. The amendments remove the stipulation that the exemption applies only if the student was under conservatorship on or after September 1, 2009, when being adopted or when permanent managing conservatorship is awarded to someone other than the student's parent. The bill maintains that students must enroll in higher education as undergraduates or in dual credit courses by their 25th birthday to qualify for the exemption.

The changes will take effect starting with tuition and fees charged for the fall semester of 2025, while any tuition and fees charged before that date will continue to be governed by the previous law. The bill requires a two-thirds majority vote in both houses for immediate effect; otherwise, it will take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 54.366 (Education Code 54)