The bill, H.B. No. 1925, amends Section 54.3531 of the Education Code to provide tuition and fee exemptions at public institutions of higher education for certain peace officers. Specifically, it establishes that the governing board of an institution must exempt from tuition and laboratory fees any student who is employed as a peace officer, enrolled in a law enforcement-related degree program, making satisfactory academic progress, and who applies for the exemption in a timely manner. The bill also introduces a new subsection (a-1), which mandates the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, in consultation with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, to adopt rules that specify which degree programs qualify as law enforcement-related.

Additionally, the bill modifies subsection (e) by removing the requirement for a uniform listing of degree programs covered by the exemption and instead focuses on the rules governing the granting or denial of exemptions. The changes will take effect starting with the tuition and fees charged for the fall semester of 2025, while any academic periods prior to that will continue to be governed by the existing law. The bill will become effective 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 54.3531 (Education Code 54)