The bill amends Section 54.353(a) of the Education Code to provide tuition and laboratory fee exemptions for firefighters enrolled in fire science courses at public institutions of higher education. The new provisions specify that eligible students must either be employed as firefighters by a political subdivision or be members in good standing of a registered volunteer fire department that responds to 9-1-1 emergency calls. Additionally, to qualify for the exemption, volunteer firefighters must complete at least 20 hours of annual training approved by the State Firefighters' and Fire Marshals' Association of Texas, attend or provide support for at least 25% of their department's emergencies in a calendar year, and hold specific certifications.

The bill also includes a transition provision stating that the amended law will apply to tuition and fees charged starting with the 2025 fall semester, while fees charged for earlier academic periods will be governed by the previous law. The act will take effect immediately if it receives a two-thirds vote from both houses; otherwise, it will take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 54.353 (Education Code 54)