S.B. No. 1241 amends the Education Code to modify the criteria for college admissions at certain public institutions of higher education in Texas. The bill stipulates that applicants who graduated in the top 10 percent of their high school class can gain admission if they meet specific requirements. Notably, the bill replaces the previous requirement of achieving certain scores on the ACT or SAT with a new provision that allows applicants to meet a score set by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board on a designated college entrance examination. This change aims to streamline the admissions process and provide more flexibility in evaluating student qualifications.

The bill also outlines that students who do not qualify for admission under the existing criteria can still apply if they have completed the necessary curriculum requirements or achieved the new score set by the Coordinating Board on a designated college entrance examination. The changes will take effect for admissions starting in the fall semester of 2026, while admissions for earlier terms will continue to follow the previous law. The bill is set to take effect immediately if it receives a two-thirds majority vote in both houses; otherwise, it will take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 51.803, Education Code 54.241 (Education Code 51, Education Code 54)