The bill, H.B. No. 1507, 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 the exemption applies to students who are either employed as firefighters by a political subdivision of the state or are active members of a registered volunteer fire department. To qualify, these volunteer firefighters must meet certain criteria, including attending a minimum of 20 hours of annual training, responding to at least 25 percent of their department's emergencies in a calendar year, and holding specific certifications from recognized fire safety organizations.

The bill also establishes that the amended provisions will take effect for tuition and fees charged starting with the fall semester of 2025, while fees charged for academic periods prior to that will continue to be governed by the existing law. The act will take effect immediately if it receives a two-thirds majority vote in both houses; otherwise, it will become effective on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 54.353 (Education Code 54)
House Committee Report: Education Code 54.353 (Education Code 54)
Engrossed: Education Code 54.353 (Education Code 54)