House Bill No. 2110 seeks to improve public higher education in Texas by amending the Education Code and introducing new provisions. A significant change includes expanding eligibility for dual credit courses to students in grades 9 through 12 who are educationally disadvantaged, with specific criteria for determining their eligibility based on enrollment and previous school years. School districts and charter schools are mandated to assess and report students' eligibility to higher education institutions. The bill also empowers the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to designate certain credentials as "credentials of value," ensuring they provide a positive return on investment for students.

Additionally, the bill establishes a framework for coordinating grant programs related to career and technical education, aligning them with state workforce development goals. It requires enhanced employment data collection from employers and mandates the Texas Workforce Commission to conduct biennial assessments of regional labor demands. The bill also amends assessment processes, allowing the commission to contract with state agencies or educational institutions for data sharing and assessment results, which must be reported to key state officials by March 1 of each odd-numbered year starting in the 2025-2026 school year. Furthermore, it introduces a definition for an individual self-sufficient wage to be evaluated by December 1, 2026, and outlines a phased implementation for new regulations concerning associate degrees and certificates awarded by public junior colleges. The bill will take effect immediately upon a two-thirds vote or on September 1, 2025, if that vote is not achieved.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 28.0095, Education Code 61.003 (Education Code 28, Education Code 61)
House Committee Report: Education Code 28.0095, Education Code 61.003, Labor Code 204.0025 (Labor Code 204, Education Code 28, Education Code 61)