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. The bill specifies 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. Additionally, the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, in consultation with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, is tasked with adopting rules to define which degree programs qualify as law enforcement-related.

The bill also modifies the responsibilities of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board by removing the requirement for a uniform listing of degree programs covered by the exemption. Instead, it focuses on establishing rules for granting or denying exemptions and determining student eligibility. The changes will take effect starting with the tuition and fees charged for the fall semester of 2025, while any fees charged prior to that will continue to be governed by the previous law. The act 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)