House Bill No. 2110 seeks to improve public higher education in Texas by amending the Education Code to expand access to dual credit courses for students in grades 9 through 12 who have faced educational disadvantages in recent years. The bill mandates that school districts and charter schools assess student eligibility based on specific criteria and communicate this information to institutions of higher education. Additionally, it empowers the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to designate certain credentials as "credentials of value," which will be evaluated based on their return on investment and alignment with workforce needs.

The legislation also aims to enhance the coordination of grant programs for career and technical education at both secondary and postsecondary levels, streamlining funding and minimizing redundancy. It requires the Texas Workforce Commission to conduct biennial assessments of regional labor demands to ensure educational programs are aligned with workforce requirements. Furthermore, the bill introduces new provisions for improved assessment and reporting processes, including a requirement for the commission to share assessment results with key state officials and educational bodies. A new definition of individual self-sufficient wage will be established based on county analyses, with evaluations due by December 1, 2026. The provisions regarding associate degrees and certificates from public junior colleges will be implemented in the 2025-2026 and 2027-2028 academic years, respectively, with the bill taking effect immediately upon a two-thirds vote or on September 1, 2025, if such a vote is not achieved.

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